Bulogate

Bulogate

Principally, corruption, collusion and nepotism (KKN), however
insignificant it may look, must be eradicated fairly and justly.
But it should not shift the focus away from more important
national tasks, i.e., to investigate KKN allegedly involving
former president Soeharto, which is explicitly stipulated in the
Broad Outlines of the State Policy.

News concerning the scandal in the State Logistics Agency
(Bulog), also known as Bulogate, which involves a number of high
officials, has been widely reported in the media, although the
amount involved is relatively very small (Rp 35 billion), when
seen from the national scope of interest.

There is a much bigger scandal involving one and a quarter
trillion rupiah by Edy Tansil, which happened well before the
monetary crisis hit the nation. When converted into the present
money value, it would amount to more or less Rp 4 trillion.

Bulogate is believed to have involved many high-ranking
officials. And the intensity of the scandal is so high that the
legislators are planning to summon the President for questioning.
While the Edy Tansil case, which is much greater in nature, has
received very little attention from law enforcers.

This will not fail to attract the attention of the people who
feel that justice is not being upheld. We should note that the
law enforcers are paid by the people through taxes.

H. IFRAD SUKANTO

Jakarta