Mega told to focus on law, security in 2003<\/p>\n
Berni K. Moestafa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
President Megawati Soekarnoputri should focus next year's
\npolicies on improving law and security in the country, while her
\nministers should stay away from state funds as their parties
\nprepare for the 2004 general elections, observers said on Monday.<\/p>\n
Political analyst Indria Samego said law and security needed
\nto be at the top of the government's priority list for this year
\nas well as next.<\/p>\n
\"It all starts with upholding law, providing legal certainty
\nand security,\" the political and military analyst of the National
\nInstitute of Sciences (LIPI) said on Monday.<\/p>\n
He said corruption cases involving political parties would
\nlikely rise in the lead-up to the 2004 elections.<\/p>\n
The sale of state companies and other projects involving vast
\namounts of state funds were at risk of interference from
\npolitical parties, he said.<\/p>\n
Quarrels among parties, he added, would also rise as they
\nscramble to raise funds for the elections.<\/p>\n
Indria added that the government should be doing more on the
\nsecurity front.<\/p>\n
While terrorism and separatism will remain the toughest
\nchallenges for next year, he said, the government should not
\nneglect providing security for investors.<\/p>\n
Analysts blame the fall in investment on the lack of security
\nand legal certainty. Domestic and foreign investment approvals
\nfell by 70 percent and 45 percent respectively in the first half
\nof 2002, data from the state investment board shows.<\/p>\n
\"Decisiveness, that's what the government has to show in its
\npolicies -- it's foremost in upholding the law,\" political
\nanalyst and legal expert Hamid Awaluddin said when asked what
\nPresident Megawati's priorities should be for next year.<\/p>\n
With the 2004 elections approaching, the government should
\nalso be firm with keeping political parties' fund-raising efforts
\nwithin the regulated limit.<\/p>\n
The Law on political parties limits a party's annual donations
\nto Rp 200 million from an individual and Rp 800 million from a
\nlegal entity, such as a company.<\/p>\n
On the legal front, Hamid said that Megawati should also
\nclarify Attorney General M.A. Rachman's status after the semi-
\nindependent Public Servants' Wealth Audit Commission (KPKPN)
\nquestioned the sources of some of his assets.<\/p>\n
\"Should legal action be taken against him? If not, then she
\n(Megawati) should clear him of KPKPN's charges,\" Hamid said.<\/p>\n
While the two analysts warned of a higher risk of corruption
\namong political parties next year, Indonesian Corruption Watch's
\n(ICW) Teten Masduki thought otherwise.<\/p>\n
He argued that businessmen accused of corruption were unlikely
\nto bribe politicians for protection, even as parties were on the
\nlookout for funds. Bribing politicians, he said, turned out to be
\nineffective.<\/p>\n
Teten said it would be cheaper for them to bribe a string of
\nlaw enforcers -- the police, lawyers, prosecutors, right up to
\nthe judges.<\/p>\n
Thus the government should concentrate its fight against
\ncorruption on the purging of the country's judiciary, he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mega-told-to-focus-on-law-security-in-2003-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}