Three ministers may go: Gus Dur<\/p>\n
SALT LAKE CITY, U.S. (Agencies): President Abdurrahman Wahid
\nsaid on Saturday he was considering replacements for three
\nmembers of his Cabinet who were allegedly involved in corruption,
\ncollusion and nepotism.<\/p>\n
"Corruption should be eradicated from the top down to the
\nlower echelons. Therefore, I am now quietly preparing
\nreplacements for the three ministers," Abdurrahman told a meeting
\nwith the Indonesian expatriate community here.<\/p>\n
It was the second time during his U.S. visit that the
\nPresident commented on corruption allegations against several
\nCabinet ministers. He was responding to a question from an
\nIndonesian student concerning the government's approach to
\ncombating corruption, which is perceived to be pervasive and in
\nalmost all sections of the bureaucracy.<\/p>\n
During a dinner meeting with American businesspeople,
\npoliticians and scholars in Washington, D.C., on Thursday,
\nAbdurrahman said he would summon three members of his Cabinet
\nupon his return to Jakarta because of new corruption allegations
\nagainst them.<\/p>\n
The President declined to identify them.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman, who was visiting the Utah capital for eye
\ntreatment, said he demanded high integrity and honesty when
\ndeciding on members of the Cabinet because they were the primary
\nrequirements in building a clean and respectable government.<\/p>\n
The President said after the inauguration of his Cabinet late
\nlast month that he was bent on heading a clean and competent
\ngovernment to gain the people's trust and restore international
\nmarket confidence.<\/p>\n
He warned then that he would prefer to have Cabinet members
\nresign than be suspected of abuses of power.<\/p>\n
"Corruption within the government bureaucracy is possible
\nbecause of the authority held by officials to dispense licenses
\nor services. At the Ministry of Religious Affairs, for example,
\ngraft usually occurs in the processing for the haj pilgrimage."<\/p>\n
He attributed bureaucratic corruption to the officials' low
\npay, saying malfeasance rarely occurred at private firms which
\npaid their employees well.<\/p>\n
The President, who was accompanied by Indonesian Ambassador to
\nthe U.S. Dorodjatun Kuntjorojakti, recounted an experience in
\nwhich someone offered him a proposal along with a promise of
\nmonetary rewards.<\/p>\n
"I asked for the proposal and immediately tore it into pieces
\nin front of him," Abdurrahman was quoted by Antara as saying.<\/p>\n
He said the forceful approach was necessary to tackle
\ncorruption.<\/p>\n
"I have told my ministers they should relinquish their duties
\nonce they are suspected of criminal acts. They should resign if
\nthey are found guilty," he added.<\/p>\n
Attorney General Marzuki Darusman confirmed on Sunday he was
\nasked by Abdurrahman to investigate corruption allegations
\ninvolving three ministers.<\/p>\n
"I am still investigating the cases," Marzuki told Reuters,
\nbut he declined to identify the ministers.<\/p>\n
Marzuki said he was already investigating two ministers
\nbecause of allegations against them. He said the probe was not
\nlinked to the politically charged Bank Bali scandal, which has
\nrocked the country's political establishment and is considered a
\nmajor factor in the failed bid for reelection of B.J. Habibie.<\/p>\n
He said the investigation was ordered after reports in the
\nmedia about alleged corruption. He asked for the media's
\ncontinued assistance.<\/p>\n
"President Abdurrahman ordered me to investigate these cases
\nbecause of reports in the press. He is trying his best to win the
\nconfidence of the business community in particular so that it
\nwill be comfortable enough to put its money back in Indonesia,"
\nMarzuki added. (vin)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/three-ministers-may-go-gus-dur-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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