State audit commission fails to reach target<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The State Officials' Wealth Audit Commission (KPKPN) failed to
\nreach its target of scrutinizing the finances of at least 1,500
\nofficials due in part to a distinct lack of enthusiasm from its
\nmembers and staff members during the current year-end
\nfestivities.<\/p>\n
The 25-strong commission had earlier planned to complete the
\nexaminations of at least 1,500 public officials by the end of
\nthis year.<\/p>\n
Commission chairman Jusuf Syakir admitted that most of the
\ncommission members and the secretariat-general's staff members
\nhave not been around this week due to the holidays, and probably
\nwill not start working again in earnest until after the New Year.<\/p>\n
\"I could not have predicted this situation. I can do nothing
\nbut tolerate it,\" Jusuf told The Jakarta Post by phone on
\nSaturday.<\/p>\n
This seemingly relaxed attitude contrasts greatly from the
\nattitude in 2000 when the commission was still fairly new. At
\nthat time, the commission vowed to audit the officials' wealth
\nthoroughly, despite problems or opposition.<\/p>\n
The commission was established in 1999 as part of the
\ngovernment's efforts to combat corruption, and is accountable
\nonly to the president.<\/p>\n
The commission is required to present its accountability
\nreport of its examination results for the period of August
\nthrough December 2001, to the president in early January.<\/p>\n
Data released by the commission shows that only some 5,000 of
\nthe 30,000 registry forms which were handed over to state
\nofficials across the country have been completed and returned.<\/p>\n
Each of the four sub-commissions has to process the 5,000
\ndocuments through a series of assessment stages. Firstly, they
\nmust announce the wealth report to the public, then re-assess
\nthem and finally, must carry out factual checks in the field.<\/p>\n
The sub-commissions are also required to make an analysis
\nreport and convey that report to a plenary meeting of the
\ncommission. \"I guess we can finish it by the end of December,\"
\nJusuf said.<\/p>\n
The four sub-commissions are assigned to different branches of
\ngovernment and work separately on the wealth of officials from
\nthe legislative, judicial, executive and state enterprises,
\nrespectively.<\/p>\n
The commission has been criticized as a \"toothless tiger\" by
\nmany anticorruption groups. Last month, while apparently seeking
\nmore teeth and tougher punishment for those who fail to disclose,
\nor lie about, the source of their wealth, they had a meeting with
\nthe president.<\/p>\n
During the meeting with President Megawati Soekarnoputri last
\nmonth, Jusuf revealed that three Cabinet-level ministers had
\nfailed to return their wealth reports to the commission.<\/p>\n
But, Jusuf confirmed on Saturday that two of them, Minister of
\nReligious Affairs Said Agiel Munawar and State Minister of the
\nAcceleration of Development in Eastern Indonesia Manuel Kaisiepo
\nhad recently turned in their forms.<\/p>\n
\"I have yet to receive a wealth report from the foreign
\nminister,\" he added.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/state-audit-commission-fails-to-reach-target-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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