Latief's responsibility<\/p>\n
As expected all along, Minister of Manpower Abdul Latief
\nfinally reported to President Soeharto on the public uproar over
\nuse of Jamsostek state social security insurance funds, the
\nwidely discussed scandal.<\/p>\n
Since the scandal was uncovered and then reported by the
\nmedia, people had expected this ending. They were proven right
\nwhen Latief talked to the press Wednesday after meeting with
\nPresident Soeharto at his Jl. Cendana residence the day before.<\/p>\n
Without showing any expression of either regret or guilt,
\nLatief blithely asserted that any use of Jamsostek funds --
\nincluding to pay for the processing of the much discussed draft
\nlabor law -- must be done under presidential order.<\/p>\n
Through that statement, Latief appeared to be declaring
\nhimself Mr. Innocent in a case that so disturbs the public's
\nsense of justice -- and this while Latief had previously loudly
\ndeclared that he was the one responsible.<\/p>\n
Latief's statement after his meeting with the President does
\nnot convey the kind of responsibility promised. On the contrary,
\nwhat we see is a shifting of responsibility. It is a pity that we
\ncannot ask the President whether it is true that any use of
\nJamsostek funds, controversial or otherwise, is done at
\npresidential order.<\/p>\n
We have the highest respect for President Soeharto for taking
\nresponsibility. This is indeed the highest form of responsibility
\na leader can show toward a subordinate.<\/p>\n
A cabinet minister, however, is a prominent figure. In his
\nministry, he is the leader. There is a portion of responsibility
\ntoward his superior that he cannot just simply disavow.<\/p>\n
A cabinet minister bears the responsibility of establishing
\nthe image of the existence of a clean and authoritative
\ngovernment. A cabinet minister has a duty to ensure his
\ngovernment's credibility. A cabinet minister bears
\nresponsibilities.<\/p>\n
This means that a particular allowance exists beyond which it
\nis taboo for a subordinate to shift his responsibilities onto the
\nshoulders of his superior. This is a matter of morals, not
\nstructural formalities.<\/p>\n
-- Media Indonesia, Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/latiefs-responsibility-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }