NGOs accuse MPR of graft<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
A coalition of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) unveiled on
\nWednesday a possible corruption case involving the People's
\nConsultative Assembly (MPR) secretariat general in accommodating
\n118 Regional Representative Council (DPD) members last year.<\/p>\n
The coalition, Komplek, said their first investigation found
\nalleged markups of prices, double taxation and violations of
\nprocedures in renting the Mercure Hotel and Residence apartment
\nrooms from October 21 to December 31, which caused Rp 1.6 billion
\n(US$173,000) in losses to the state.<\/p>\n
Uchok Sky Khadafi, a member of Komplek, said at the Jakarta
\nLegal Aid (LBH Jakarta) office that the Assembly's secretariat
\npaid between Rp 1.6 million and Rp 3.8 million more than the
\nnormal price for Mercure rooms.<\/p>\n
\"If the secretariat paid the prices according to the initial
\noffer, the state could have saved Rp 1.2 billion,\" said Uchok,
\nwho is the director of the Indonesian Forum for Budget
\nTransparency (Fitra).<\/p>\n
The newly inaugurated DPD members were accommodated in the
\nhotel pending the disbursement of state budget money to provide
\nhousing for them. The remaining 10 DPD members own houses in
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
Komplek also discovered that the double taxation occurred
\nbecause the secretariat added 12 percent in state treasury taxes
\nto the prices offered, which normally include a 21 percent
\nservice tax.<\/p>\n
\"The policy has no legal basis and it cost the state Rp 483.5
\nmillion,\" said Yuna Farhan, one of the coalition's investigators.<\/p>\n
Hayie Muhammad, another Komplek member, said the secretariat
\nhad violated a presidential decree on procedures for procuring
\nmaterials or services by appointing Mercure without an open
\ntender.<\/p>\n
Deputy Assembly secretary general Eddy Siregar denied the
\nallegations and accused Komplek of using inaccurate data in their
\ninvestigation.<\/p>\n
\"We are willing to be responsible and accountable. Anyway,
\nthey are making a wrong accusation. The data given to Komplek by
\nMercure represented prices offered for one year of rent, while
\nprices offered to us were for only two months. Of course they
\n(Komplek) got cheaper prices,\" he told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Mercure Director of Sales Ansori Abdullah said that on Feb. 7
\na group of people came to him, who said they represented DPD
\nmembers, and asked him for a price list of rooms. He said they
\nalso told him that the council wanted to rent the rooms for four
\nyears.<\/p>\n
Eddy also said there was no double taxation because the
\nsecretariat was responsible for paying all the taxes and Mercure
\nhad offered prices excluding tax.<\/p>\n
\"The money went nowhere. It went back to the state treasury,\"
\nEddy claimed.<\/p>\n
Abdul Malik Raden, head of the DPD faction in the Assembly,
\ndefended the secretariat's decision in selecting the apartment
\nwithout a tender.<\/p>\n
\"I think we could consider it an emergency, at the time,
\nbecause the DPD members had to check out of the Mulia Hotel and
\nhad no place to stay. Besides, not many apartments have 118
\nvacant rooms for two months,\" the representative from Aceh
\nexplained. (006)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ngos-accuse-mpr-of-graft-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}