More join cause to check officials' wealth<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The call for legislation to check the wealth of
\ntop government officials by the Moslem Students Organization
\n(HMI) received a warm welcome among a number of political
\ncommentators yesterday.<\/p>\n
One of them was Gen. (ret.) Soemitro, the former chief of the
\ninternal security agency, Kopkamtib, who advised that the issue
\nbe treated with caution.<\/p>\n
"It is a concept which cannot stand on its own," Soemitro
\nsaid. "If it is implemented now, there will no doubt be a big
\nvacuum in the government because presently there are many
\nofficials whose wealth goes far beyond their incomes," he said.<\/p>\n
There must be a "clear and comprehensive concept" in order to
\nimplement the proposal, including restructuring and streamlining
\nthe bureaucracy.<\/p>\n
"The bureaucracy could cut down on staff and encourage greater
\nproductivity among the employees that are retained. This, in
\nturn, would allow the government to offer better salaries to its
\nemployees," he said.<\/p>\n
He recognized that the low salaries of civil servants, one of
\nthe lowest paid professions in the country, has been the prime
\nreason for government workers to moonlight or, worse still, abuse
\ntheir positions for financial gain.<\/p>\n
Soemitro said the House of Representatives should also do a
\nbetter job in keeping an eye on top government officials.<\/p>\n
HMI's proposal, while considered by many as nothing new, came
\nafter a series of disclosures of collusion between government
\nofficials and entrepreneurs. Last year the court sentenced four
\ndirectors of Bapindo, a state bank, for colluding with a
\nbusinessman.<\/p>\n
HMI said top government officials must declare their wealth
\nbefore and after holding office and that a system must be
\ninstituted to continue to monitor their assets.<\/p>\n
Top government officials are already obliged to declare their
\nwealth before assuming office but this information is never made
\npublic and is only available to a few people, including the
\nPresident.<\/p>\n
Sabam Sirait, a legislator from the Indonesian Democratic
\nParty (PDI) said he was "very pleased" with the HMI proposal.<\/p>\n
Special law<\/p>\n
"I think the idea of recording the wealth of government
\nofficials is very good and would be even better if a special law
\nwas made for this purpose," he said.<\/p>\n
Sabam said government officials who have direct contact with
\nthe public, such as legislators and members of the Supreme Audit
\nBoard, the Supreme Court, the president and the vice president,
\nshould particularly be subject to this requirement.<\/p>\n
"Before starting their terms and taking their oaths, their
\npersonal wealth should be declared. Afterwards, when they leave
\ntheir posts, they should report again so the public can see if
\ntheir wealth has increased," he said.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) supported the
\nproposal.<\/p>\n
"Although it is not new, it is valuable because it comes in
\nspite of HMI's seemingly declining role. It shows once more HMI's
\ncommitment to the development of a clean government," the
\nfoundation's Director for Communication and Special Programs
\nHendardi told The Jakarta Post in an statement yesterday.<\/p>\n
"There is a great chance that officials will abuse their
\npositions given that business and politics are mixed together in
\nthis country," he said.<\/p>\n
He said in the absence such legislation, top government
\nofficials are virtually "untouchable". (pwn)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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