Audit body to get tough on officials

JAKARTA (JP): The Public Servants Wealth Audit Commission (KPKPN) will announce the names of state officials who refuse to fill out wealth forms or fail to submit their forms in a timely manner, the commission's chief said on Wednesday.

Speaking to journalists after meeting with House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung, Jusuf Syakir said announcing the names would serve as a moral sanction for the officials.

Jusuf said he suspected some of the officials were reluctant to declare their wealth, resulting in a delay to the audit process.

"We are discussing the technicalities of announcing the names of state officials hampering the audit process. We should do this as a moral sanction to them," Jusuf said.

Jusuf issued the warning after it was announced only 10 percent of around 500,000 state officials who had been asked to declare their wealth had returned their forms on time.

The warning also followed a unanimous decision by members of the Association of Regional Legislative Councils to refuse to fill out the wealth forms because of what they called procedural problems.

State officials, who include government officials, legislators, military officers and judges, officially have one month to fill out and submit a wealth form to the commission. Since April 10, the commission has published a list every Tuesday of those state officials who have filled out their forms.

Jusuf said members of the Cabinet were slow in complying with the audit procedures, with only two of the ministers having declared their wealth.

"I think we should follow in the footsteps of President Abdurrahman Wahid and Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri, who returned their wealth forms before the deadline," Jusuf said.

He said that as of early this week, 150 of the 500 House legislators and some 33 percent of the 700 members of the People's Consultative Assembly had returned their forms.

"The percentage of legislators who have submitted their forms is quite good actually," he remarked.

House deputy speakers Matori Abdul Djalil and A.M. Fatwa were the last leaders of the legislative body to report their wealth.

Jusuf did say many officials complained about the difficulty in filling out the forms. "But I think it is just an excuse, because the forms are similar to tax forms."

The latest list published by the commission included State Minister of Research and Technology Muhammad A.S Hikam, who declared Rp 1.04 billion in assets and US$2,815 in foreign currency.

Also on the list were several officials who claimed surprisingly small assets. Faozaro JA Harefa, a project officer at the Ministry of Communications, reported Rp 4,223,060 in total assets.

Another official, Ministry of Communications treasurer Nahrip Capah, valued his total assets at Rp 10 million.(dja)