Attorney General Rachman under fire for lavish party

Attorney General Rachman under fire for lavish party

Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Attorney General M.A. Rachman, who is responsible for dealing
mainly with the country's widespread corruption, has come under
fire for hosting a lavish wedding reception for his daughter last
week, which some legislators have said was extravagant.

House of Representatives members Susono Yusuf, of the National
Awakening Party, and Sutradara Gintings, of the Justice Unity
Party, alleged on Sunday that Rachman had breached government
directives ordering state officials to exercise restraint in
their lifestyles.

Both Susono and Sutradara urged President Megawati
Soekarnoputri and State Minister for Administrative Reforms
Feisal Tamin to question Rachman to find out whether the wedding
reception was an offense and to publicize the result.

"The directive for Cabinet ministers and state officials to
lead more modest lifestyles is apparently not working, so the
President and the state minister should be more proactive in
supervising officials," Sutradara said, as quoted by Antara.

Susono, who is a member of House Commission II overseeing
legal issues, emphasized that Rachman should have been more
sensitive to the feelings of the public, which is, in the main,
still suffering the impact of the economic crisis.

The wedding reception of Rachman's eldest daughter was held on
June 8 at Balai Sudirman in South Jakarta. At least 5,000 people
were invited to the party, which is reported to have cost Rp 500
million, Antara said.

Among those attending, the report said, were lawyers and
bankers suspected of involvement in government loan abuse, and
whose cases are currently being investigated by Rachman's office.

Earlier this year, Megawati's administration launched a thrift
campaign, asking officials to wear modest attire instead of
suits. The austerity program also targeted greater efficiency in
the use of paper and of telephones in offices.

Feisal Tamin's circular, issued on Dec. 24, 2001, clearly set
limitations on officials' activities and lifestyles.

It stated that officials were not allowed to stage official
events or host private parties at venues the public would regard
as ostentatious.

The directive followed up Presidential Decree No. 10/1974 on
state officials' lifestyle, in which Article 11 stipulates that
any private party, such as a wedding or birthday party, cannot be
held twice, and is limited to 250 guests only.

Attorney General's Office spokesman Barman Zahir, who chaired
the wedding reception committee, said that the party cost far
less than the reported Rp 500 million and that none of the errant
bankers was invited to or attended either the reception or
Rachman's home.

"I cannot comment any further because it's Pak Rachman's
personal affair. But nothing was extravagant about the party. It
was a simple Acehnese wedding reception. Many other state
officials have hosted far more luxurious parties for members of
their family," Barman told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.

Barman said that Rachman invited all members of House
Commission II, who are his working partners, as well as several
lawyers who are long-time friends.