Bulog chief: Officials’ suspension reflects moral and professional responsibility
“This is a matter of moral responsibility: the moral responsibility of a superior, a commander and the officials in charge.”
Jakarta (ANTARA) – Perum Bulog president director Ahmad Rizal Ramdhani has stressed that the suspension of six officials reflects moral responsibility and professionalism, and is intended to preserve objectivity while an investigation into alleged irregularities in rice distribution under the Food Supply and Price Stabilisation (SPHP) programme is under way.
Rizal said the officials had not been suspended because they had been found to have committed a criminal offence. Rather, the measure reflects leadership responsibility for the performance of duties in areas under their authority where alleged irregularities were uncovered.
“Bulog staff have not been suspended because they have been proven to have committed a criminal act; they have not. This is a matter of moral responsibility – the moral responsibility of a superior, a commander and the officials in charge,” Rizal said in Jakarta on Thursday.
He said every manager has a moral responsibility when a problem occurs in the area they lead, even if investigators have yet to establish whether that official was directly involved.
He compared the situation to a regional security leader being held responsible when a major disturbance occurs, even though the leader may not have been the perpetrator or directly involved.
Alongside the moral responsibility, the temporary suspensions are part of Bulog’s commitment to professionalism, allowing the investigation to proceed objectively and preventing any potential interference by officials who remain in their posts.
Rizal said officials still holding their positions could potentially influence the investigation. Their suspension was therefore a preventive measure to protect the independence of the inquiry, which is currently under way.
He stressed that the decision did not imply the officials’ involvement, as the legal and investigative processes are continuing through the mechanisms of the relevant authorities.
If the investigation finds that officials were not involved and did not co-operate with those responsible, Bulog will restore all their employment rights in accordance with the applicable rules.
Officials found to have had no involvement will be reassigned to equivalent positions, although not necessarily to the same posts they held before their temporary suspension.
He said the vacant posts must be filled promptly to keep Bulog’s operations running normally, rather than waiting for all stages of an investigation that may require further time and examination to be completed.
The administrative measure is also intended to prevent the perception that Bulog is allowing officials to remain at work while an investigation into alleged irregularities in SPHP distribution is in progress.
Rizal added that the decision should encourage Bulog personnel to strengthen field supervision, including regular inspections of Rumah Pangan Kita (RPK), official partners in the government’s SPHP rice distribution programme.
He acknowledged that Bulog is responsible for overseeing RPK outlets, from verification and physical inspections to monitoring sales in accordance with the rules.
Rizal said he hoped the suspensions, stronger oversight and a thorough investigation would improve governance of SPHP rice distribution and maintain public confidence in the government’s assignment to Bulog.
Perum Bulog has suspended six employees in its Jakarta and Banten regional office as part of its internal response and further examination.
“On the instructions of the Agriculture Minister and following a Bulog directors’ meeting, we decided to suspend six people and issue warning letters to two others, in line with the considerations of the head of the National Food Agency, who is also the Agriculture Minister. This is our responsibility,” Rizal added.