KKN infects many projects in N. Sumatra<\/p>\n
Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan<\/p>\n
Some 70 percent of development projects in the North Sumatra
\nprovincial administration were tarnished by the practices of
\ncollusion, corruption and nepotism (KKN), two business
\nassociations said on Saturday.<\/p>\n
According to evidence found by the National Contractors
\nAssociation (Gapeknas) and the National Distributor Partners
\nAssociation (Ardin), over 50 projects worth Rp 550 billion (US$61
\nmillion) funded by state and local budgets were contaminated with
\ncollusion, corruption and nepotism.<\/p>\n
The head of the North Sumatra branch of Gapeknas, Junjungan
\nPasaribu, predicted that the total value of graft-infected
\nprojects accounted for some 70 percent of the total value of
\ndevelopment projects managed by the provincial administration.<\/p>\n
RAJ Sinambela of Ardin, and also chairman of the North Sumatra
\nAnticorruption Movement, revealed that the graft-infested
\nprojects included 48 flood-control projects in Nias regency worth
\nRp 31 billion and the Rp 23 billion Deli River improvement
\nproject.<\/p>\n
Other suspicious projects include the Rp 12 billion renovation
\nproject for the provincial administration's office, a Rp 11
\nbillion project for \"transfer of inventories\", a Rp 48 billion
\nflood-control project in Asahan regency, a Rp 38 billion material
\nprocurement for state electricity company PT PLN and the Rp 6.5
\nbillion renovation of buildings belonging to the Medan State
\nUniversity.<\/p>\n
Sinambela said the corruption in those projects had been going
\non since the administration of governor Raja Inal Siregar which
\nbegan in mid 1990s right up to the present under governor T.
\nRizal Nurdin.<\/p>\n
\"KKN occurs in almost all agencies and government offices,
\nespecially in agencies that are responsible for lucrative
\nprojects,\" RAJ Sinambela told The Jakarat Post.<\/p>\n
In addition, the two associations also found evidence of
\ncorruption in a number of infrastructure projects worth Rp 600
\nbillion funded by the Asian Development Bank.<\/p>\n
Sinambela said that his organization had reported those abuses
\nto the North Sumatra Prosecutor's Office.<\/p>\n
The head of the North Sumatra Prosecutor's Office, Chairman
\nHarahap, confirmed that his office had received the reports about
\nthe graft allegations, and promised to investigate them.<\/p>\n
Responding to the allegations of rampant corruption in
\nprojects managed by the provincial administration, the newly-
\ninstalled North Sumatra secretary general Muchyan Tambuse said
\nthat he would restart the bidding process for projects that had
\nirregularities.<\/p>\n
\"This has become the commitment of this country to root out
\ncorruption everywhere. For sure, we will investigate those KKN
\ncases,\" he promised.<\/p>\n
Junjungan Pasaribu explained that KKN practices started long
\nbefore a project commenced, namely from the pre-qualification and
\nregistration of bidders for the projects.<\/p>\n
Those people often hid behind Presidential Decree No. 18\/2000
\non the guidelines on the procurements of goods and services to
\naward projects to certain parties, often ending up in the
\npractice of nepotism.<\/p>\n
\"This is embarrassing but we cannot cover the facts. Our legal
\nsystem and the will of legal authorities are still very weak, so
\nKKN happens in every government institution, including in
\nenterprises belonging to local administrations,\" he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/kkn-infects-many-projects-in-n-sumatra-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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