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.