Rampant bribery taints civil servant selection<\/p>\n
Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan, North Sumatra<\/p>\n
Bribery allegations have marred the recruitment process for new
\ncivil servants in North Sumatra, with applicants being forced to
\nmake unauthorized payments of Rp 45 million (US$5,294) each in
\norder to be accepted.<\/p>\n
The rampant bribery has involved high-ranking officials in
\nseveral regencies across the province, applicants have said.<\/p>\n
They admitted that they were asked to pay the bribes via close
\nrelatives of the senior officials concerned.<\/p>\n
However, several of the applicants were disappointed because
\nthey were not accepted as new civil servants. This was because
\nofficials had not received enough money from them, in accordance
\nwith the amounts they had been predetermined.<\/p>\n
D. Br. Siahaan, one of the disappointed applicants, confessed
\nto having paid Rp 35 million to the family of a certain official
\nwith the Dairi regency administration, but found himself excluded
\nfrom the list of accepted civil servants on Nov. 19.<\/p>\n
He believes this was because he failed to pay Rp 45 million,
\nas required by the official.<\/p>\n
\"I was asked for Rp 45 million, but paid only Rp 35 million. I
\npromised to pay the rest after being accepted as a civil
\nservant,\" Siahaan told The Jakarta Post on Monday.<\/p>\n
He was surprised, upon hearing the Nov. 19 announcement, that
\nhe had failed the selection test for civil servants.<\/p>\n
\"I want to become a civil servant because I will receive a
\npension. I was extremely disappointed at my failure, even though
\nI paid the money (bribe),\" he said.<\/p>\n
Siahaan vowed to recover his Rp 35 million. He declined to
\nname the official who had asked for the money.<\/p>\n
He said he knew that the Dairi administration had sought to
\nfill vacancies for 120 new civil servant positions, from a
\nrelative close to a senior official there.<\/p>\n
However, candidates were reportedly required to pay Rp 45
\nmillion each in order for their applications to be accepted,
\nSiahaan added.<\/p>\n
Similar bribery allegations have also been circulating in the
\nregency administrations of North Tapanuli, Pematang Siantar and
\nDeli Serdang.<\/p>\n
Reinhard, from North Tapunuli, whose wife was interested in
\napplying for a job as a civil servant, confirmed certain
\nofficials there required her and other applicants to pay Rp 45
\nmillion each.<\/p>\n
Reinhard said he was notified that the North Tapanuli
\nadministration was seeking 157 new civil servants, mostly
\nteachers.<\/p>\n
The bribery-tainted selection process for civil servants has
\ncaused concern among members of the North Sumatra legislative
\ncouncil.<\/p>\n
Banuaran Ritonga, a councillor from Commission III, commented
\nthat such bribery allegations were common knowledge in Indonesia,
\nbut no legal action was ever taken against those involved.<\/p>\n
If this situation persisted it would continue to promote
\nunfairness in the recruitment of new civil servants, he said.<\/p>\n
\"Corruption within the selection process for civil servants
\ncan be carried out smoothly because it involves the collusion of
\nmany parties. Council members often also support it,\" Banuaran
\nadded.<\/p>\n
He urged the central government to change urgently the
\nnational selection mechanism and civil servant recruitment
\nprocedures to prevent the recurrence of more bribery.<\/p>\n
It's time now to set up an independent committee involving
\nexperts and other credible individuals to select new civil
\nservants, he said.<\/p>\n
\"If deemed necessary, the recruitment of civil servants should
\nbe handed over to a credible institution with impeccable
\ncredentials,\" Banuaran added.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/rampant-bribery-taints-civil-servant-selection-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}