Megawati urges end to corruption<\/p>\n
Jupriadi, The Jakarta Post, Makassar<\/p>\n
Amid criticism and polls indicating worsening graft practices in
\nthe country under her leadership, President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri told her supporters on Saturday to help stop these
\npractices.<\/p>\n
Speaking in front of tens of thousands supporters of her
\nIndonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan),
\nMegawati said that party members and supporters should become
\npart of the solution to end corruption, not become the corruptors
\nthemselves.<\/p>\n
"As the ruling party we should never lead our country into
\nbankruptcy. We should never repeat the mistakes made by the
\nprevious regimes," she said in her speech during the celebration
\nof the 29th anniversary of the party here.<\/p>\n
"Never be part of the problem of corruption, collusion and
\nnepotism. We choose to fight against such practices, so never
\nattempt to do those things that we are opposed to," the President
\nsaid at the celebration, enlivened by various traditional dances.<\/p>\n
Also in attendance at the PDI Perjuangan celebration were
\nseveral Cabinet ministers including Coordinating Minister for
\nSocial Welfare Jusuf Kalla and Minister of National Education
\nAbdul Malik Fadjar.<\/p>\n
The President's comment came amid accusations that most
\ngovernment officials were trying to amass funds by exploiting
\ntheir position in the government for the sake of their own
\nparties ahead of the coming general election in 2004.<\/p>\n
Some high-ranking officials close to the palace, earlier told
\nThe Jakarta Post that even within the Cabinet such practices were
\ncommon and sometimes hampered decision making.<\/p>\n
Noted economist Sjahrir said that most state-owned enterprises
\nand the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA), that manage
\nbillions of dollars of assets, had been used as cash cows for the
\npolitical elite, and this has slowed down economic recovery.<\/p>\n
In her speech, Megawati defended her decision to again
\npostpone the establishment of a House special committee to probe
\nthe misuse of State Logistics Agency (Bulog) funds allegedly
\ninvolving Golkar Party chairman and House Speaker Akbar Tandjung
\nby saying that the law should come forward in fighting
\ncorruption.<\/p>\n
"It is impossible for the nation to uphold the law if we never
\ngive space for the law to serve ... We have to use the momentum
\nto uphold the law and fight corruption at the same time," she
\nremarked.<\/p>\n
Megawati has reportedly told her party leaders to postpone,
\nand even squash, the establishment of such an inquiry.<\/p>\n
The reason cited has always been to allow the legal process to
\nproceed without being hampered by political intervention.<\/p>\n
The move to squash the inquiry team is perceived by some as a
\nmeans to prevent Megawati's administration from cracking as her
\nCabinet members represent various parties.<\/p>",
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