Alwi explains audit irregularities

Alwi explains audit irregularities

JAKARTA (JP): Foreign Minister Alwi Shihab claimed that the Rp
46 billion (US$4.8 million) "irregularity" in the ministry as
reported by the Supreme Audit Agency, was due to the delayed
payment of visa and immigration fees from several Indonesian
embassies.

Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, Alwi said his office has
conducted a preliminary investigation and found there were
delayed payments from five consulates: Kuala Lumpur and Johor
Baru in Malaysia; Hong Kong; Riyadh and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia.

"So far we have yet to find any sign of irregularities, but we
are going to ask these embassies about the delays and we are
going to officially warn the officials responsible," Alwi
remarked.

Earlier on Monday, the audit agency announced at that they had
found financial irregularities, among them in the ministry of
foreign affairs.

According to the report, conveyed by the agency's chairman
Satrio Budihardjo Joedono during a hearing with the House of
Representatives, during the 1998/1999 fiscal year there were some
Rp 46.4 billion in irregularities, and so far Rp 24.2 billion in
fiscal year 2000 in the foreign ministry alone.

Alwi further underlined that his office has been undergoing an
internal reform to optimize the functioning of the ministry.

This includes downgrading or withdrawing several ambassadors
due to financial matters. But the ministry will do it quietly,
Alwi remarked.

"The most important thing is to make sure everybody inside the
ministry is serious in conducting the improvements," he added.

House Commission I on Tuesday also signed an agreement with
the Foreign Ministry on the draft international treaties bill.

It is now up to the House's plenary session to pass the bill.

The draft gives more authority to the House to evaluate all
international agreements, including loans and grants, after the
president enacts the agreement.

The draft also will regulate the rights and obligations of the
country in every international agreement along with standard
procedures for the government to enact agreements. (dja)