City taking its time on regaining ex-officials' cars

JAKARTA (JP): The city administration is playing its cards close to its chest on its plan of action to reclaim dozens of official cars kept illegally by retired officials.

As of Friday, none of the officials in charge, including Deputy Governor of Administration Affairs Abdul Kahfi, were willing to comment on possible sanctions if there was resistance to returning the vehicles.

In carefully worded remarks, Kahfi told reporters that his office "will look into the matter and keep on asking the officials to return the cars".

The former officials, he said, violated governor's circular No. 23/SE/98 dated July 24, 1998, on government vehicles.

Asked to elaborate, Kahfi, who has at least two official cars at his disposal, tersely responded: "No more comments."

Separately, Governor Sutiyoso warned the retirees to strictly conform to the city administration's request for the vehicle return.

"The administration does not have extra money to purchase new official cars," he said.

Fears are growing that any perceived dragging of feet on the issue could lead a cynical public to conclude the administration is not serious about reprimanding the errant retirees.

Others speculate that officials are loathe to crack down lest the spotlight shine on their own use -- or abuse -- of official perks.

Kahfi, for example, has reportedly kept the Toyota sedan which was his official vehicle when he served as Central Jakarta mayor from 1991 to 1996.

This is despite the provision of another vehicle befitting his status as deputy governor.

The city administration has found at least 45 vehicles, mostly Kijang vans, still in the possession of retired officials of the South and North Jakarta mayoralties.

Data from the other mayoralties has not been announced.

"Many of them retired quite a long time ago," Kahfi said.

Head of the City Council's Commission C for financial affairs Amarullah Asbah wondered why the repossession was not underway.

"It's supposed to be easy to regain city-owned vehicles kept by the retirees because all of the cars are still the city's official assets," Amarullah said.

"So the retired officials have no legal basis to keep the cars."

Head of the city supplies office Dadang Ruskandar said on Thursday he had instructed the city's five mayoralties to reclaim the vehicles before the end of the 1998/1999 fiscal year in March.

He refused to estimate the number of vehicles involved, saying the count was not complete.

Dadang said the vehicles were crucial for the city administration to make an accurate appraisal of its assets to devise the new budget.

Retired officials, Dadang added, could purchase the cars as long as the vehicles had been used for official functions for a period of at least eight consecutive years and there was no shortage of cars in their former work unit.

City secretary Fauzi Bowo said on Friday there was no malice involved in the administration's appeal to the retired officials.

"We just need the cars back as they're badly needed by both the administration and the mayoralties," Fauzi said. (ylt/ind)