No bars on officials' children<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of Administrative Reform T.B.
\nSilalahi said yesterday that there is no regulation banning the
\nchildren of government officials from running businesses.<\/p>\n
\"These children are Indonesians with rights similar to other
\ncitizens,\" Silalahi told reporters yesterday.<\/p>\n
\"Once they are no longer dependent on their parents, once they
\nhave their own family, they are free. How is it that they can't
\nindulge in business?\" he queried after meeting with President
\nSoeharto at Bina Graha presidential office.<\/p>\n
The minister was commenting on a debate started by members of
\nthe House of Representatives at a hearing with Attorney General
\nSinggih on Monday.<\/p>\n
Members of the House's Commission III, which deals with legal
\nissues, asked Singgih about the legality of senior government
\nofficials' offspring running business in view of a 1980
\nregulation barring civil servants from pursuing business directly
\nor indirectly.<\/p>\n
The regulation made no specific stipulation about the
\noffspring of civil servants.<\/p>\n
The legislators fear that given the position of the senior
\nofficials, some of the young entrepreneurs could have an unfair
\nadvantage over competitors in securing lucrative government
\ncontracts and projects.<\/p>\n
The concerns were reinforced by allegations of collusion and
\nnepotism in the way government contracts and credit from state
\nbanks are granted.<\/p>\n
\"Let's not narrow the interpretation of Government Regulation
\nNo. 30\/1980 about the discipline of civil servants,\" Silalahi
\nsaid yesterday. \"Let's face it, once these children are married
\nor financially independent, they should be allowed to run their
\nown life.\"<\/p>\n
Against the law<\/p>\n
Regarding the allegations of nepotism and collusion, he said
\nit was against the law, whether it involved officials' children
\nor not, and should be stopped.<\/p>\n
Asked about control mechanisms on collusion and nepotism, he
\npointed out that each official in the administration is
\nresponsible to monitor the activities of his subordinates.<\/p>\n
On top of that, there are government agencies and state
\ninstitutions such as the State Audit Agency, the Supreme State
\nAudit Agency and the inspector general for development to monitor
\nthe situation.<\/p>\n
Silalahi said his office was in the last stages of reviewing
\nregulation no. 30\/1980 when the debate surfaced on Monday.<\/p>\n
Nepotism and collusion were not discussed during his meeting
\nwith President Soeharto, he added.<\/p>\n
The legislators were not the first people this month to voice
\nconcern about collusion and corruption in business.<\/p>\n
The influential Indonesian Ulema Council said earlier that it
\nwas very concerned at the level collusion and corruption and that
\nit plans to discuss the issue at its congress later this month.<\/p>\n
Silalahi said yesterday, however, that the council may have
\nbeen exaggerating and that the problem isn't as grave as they
\nsuggest. \"You'll find corruption, collusion and nepotism
\neverywhere in this world. But don't say its grave in Indonesia.\"
\n(emb)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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