Legislator urges government to heed criticism<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government should respond quickly to
\ncriticism on corruption and other misconduct of its officials,
\nDeputy Speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly H.A.
\nAmiruddin said yesterday.<\/p>\n
An openness to criticism, Amiruddin said, is needed to meet
\nthe rising demand for clean government and for a bureaucracy that
\nwill deliver better services to the public.<\/p>\n
Amiruddin did not identify misconduct by specific officials,
\nbut condemned extravagant behavior and collusion. The latter drew
\ncountrywide attention in 1996, with the Supreme Court's alleged
\nbribe case the most conspicuous.<\/p>\n
"The government apparatus must understand that they have a set
\nof regulations of their own and implement them rigidly," former
\nSouth Sulawesi governor Amiruddin was quoted by Antara.<\/p>\n
Observers blamed the closed political system for widespread
\ncollusion and corruption, despite government claims they were
\ncombating the problem effectively.<\/p>\n
Sociologist Loekman Soetrisno of Yogyakarta-based Gadjah Mada
\nUniversity said collusion at the upper level of the apparatus was
\nthe most frightening, because of its objective to amass wealth.<\/p>\n
Amiruddin was speaking at the induction of Umar Basalim, the
\nassembly's new vice secretary. Basalim replaces Jan Patadungan,
\nwho has retired.<\/p>\n
Officials at the assembly's secretariat are appointed by the
\ngovernment. Basalim was given the new post on Dec. 24 by a
\npresidential decree.<\/p>\n
In his televised year-end speech Tuesday, President Soeharto
\nreiterated the government's commitment to sustaining openness and
\ndemocracy. However, he warned against letting new ideas and
\naspirations rush out of control.<\/p>\n
Soeharto admitted that, in politics, new ideas had emerged to
\ninvigorate democracy in the past 12 months.<\/p>\n
Amiruddin stressed the government has a difficult job ahead
\ncombating corruption and collusion, as Indonesia holds it general
\nelection this year and the People's Consultative Assembly session
\nin 1998. The 1998 assembly will convene to deliberate on the new
\nBroad Guidelines for State Policies and to elect a new president.<\/p>\n
The general election, the seventh since Indonesia proclaimed
\nindependence in 1945, will take place next May. An estimated 120
\nmillion people are expected to cast their vote.<\/p>\n
The ruling political grouping Golkar, the United Development
\nParty and the Indonesian Democratic Party are contesting the
\nelection, vying for a total of 425 seats in the House of
\nRepresentatives. The other 75 seats will be reserved for the
\nArmed Forces, whose members do not vote.<\/p>\n
The assembly will have their first session in October,
\nfollowed by discussions within working executive committees to
\ndecide the legislations and the Broad Guidelines of State
\nPolicies for 1998\/2003. The election of President and Vice
\nPresident will cap the general assembly in March 1998. (amd)<\/p>",
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