MPR and President'saccountability<\/p>\n
The 2003 annual session of the People's Consultative Assembly
\n(MPR) has ended. Altogether four decrees were produced, among
\nother things Decree No. 5\/2003 on suggestions to state
\ninstitutions (the President, House of Representatives, the
\nSupreme Audit Agency (BPK), and the Supreme Court (MA)). However,
\nbeing a decree and merely a recommendation, as agreed upon by the
\nassembly, it is not binding. The President can just ignore it
\nwithout penalty.<\/p>\n
This is evidence of how difficult indeed it is to practice the
\nfideals of good governance in this country, and how remote the
\nmaterialization of a clean government is. The ideals which have
\nbeen framed since the fall of the New Order regime in 1998, are
\nstill concepts. They have become lingo and rarely implemented.<\/p>\n
The recommendations given to the President by the MPR, should
\nbe the starting point for her to begin the campaign toward the
\neradication of corruption, collusion, and nepotism (KKN). This
\nhas been demanded by the majority of people and the results
\nshould be reported during the MPR annual session, in September
\n2004, as also agreed to by the assembly.<\/p>\n
A one year period, by ordinary people's standards, is more
\nthan enough time for her to bring big corruption cases to court,
\nin her role in public accountability and supremacy of law. This
\nprocess and its timing will be beneficial to her campaign in next
\nyear's direct presidential election.<\/p>\n
The President's public accountability should ideally be
\nverified by the BPK in order not to invite criticism from the
\npeople. The minister's, governor's, regent's and mayor's annual
\naccountability reports should also be verified by the BPK.<\/p>\n
If such regulations are not yet in place, one of the articles
\nof the new bill on the BPK (which is still in process) may insist
\nupon them. Besides which, there must only be one single national
\naudit standard, applicable to both internal as well as external
\nauditing. This must be urgently set up by BPK as the sole auditor
\nof the state.<\/p>\n
Bearing this in mind, there is no reason for state officials,
\nincluding the President, to refrain from making an annual
\naccountability report in coordination with the BPK. The
\ngovernment should move quickly -- if reports of malfeasance or
\nthe deviation of state budget are made -- so that corruptions
\ncases may be dealt with accordingly.<\/p>\n
M. RUSDI
\nJakarta<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mpr-and-presidentsaccountability-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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