Inventory of state assets completed<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Finance Mar'ie Muhammad said
\nyesterday that state assets are estimated at Rp 53.7 trillion
\n(US$24.8 billion at the current rate) as of April, 1994.<\/p>\n
"The value of the assets which consist mostly of land and
\nbuildings is based on the preliminary results of the inventory of
\nstate assets throughout the country which was completed last
\nyear," Mar'ie told a hearing with the House of Representatives
\nBudgetary Commission.<\/p>\n
He acknowledged shortcomings within the inventory, notably
\nthat of state assets administered by provincial governments.<\/p>\n
"But as of last year, all government agencies have reported
\nthe inventory of state assets under their administration to the
\nMinistry of Finance," he said.<\/p>\n
In 1991, he added, 48 government agencies had not yet reported
\nthe inventory of state assets to the finance ministry.<\/p>\n
The minister said the results of the latest inventory seem
\nmuch closer to reality because cumulative investments by the
\ngovernment over the past 25 years have totaled Rp 85 trillion.<\/p>\n
"Hence, deducted by depreciation the Rp 53.7 trillion figure
\nas concluded from the latest inventory seems reasonable," he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Mar'ie assured the commission that the government will
\ncontinue to update the inventory.<\/p>\n
In connection with this, he said, the government will set up a
\ntask force and more state financial accounting boards at the
\nprovincial administrations to keep track of state assets.<\/p>\n
"I share the commission's concern over the gross shortcomings
\nin the inventory of state assets but we should also appreciate
\nthe progress made thus far," he added.<\/p>\n
"Our priority is now to set up a task force in every ministry
\nand government agency which will be fully responsible both for
\ninventory and the safeguarding of state properties," he stated.<\/p>\n
Mar'ie also expressed great concern over the improper sale of
\nstate assets.<\/p>\n
"I have instructed all government offices that state assets or
\nproperties can be sold or exchanged for private assets only with
\nprior approval from the finance minister or the President," he
\nadded.<\/p>\n
Members of the Budgetary Commission reminded the minister
\nyesterday of the findings of the Supreme Audit Agency regarding
\nquestionable transactions involving state properties.<\/p>\n
Some House members even asked about a property exchange
\nagreement made by a private company and the state-owned
\nsecurities paper and bank note printing company, Peruri.<\/p>\n
The head of the accounting board for state finances at the
\nministry of finance, Nirwan Nasaruddin, told The Jakarta Post
\nthat the government planned to set up an accounting board in
\ncharge of inventorying state assets in each province by 1997.<\/p>\n
"Thus far we have set up seven boards in Jakarta, Surabaya,
\nMedan, Bandung, Palembang, Semarang and Ujungpandang," he said.
\n(fhp)<\/p>\n
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