Civil servant candidates

Civil servant candidates

From Pelita

Referring to a letter published in Pelita on May 29, 1997, under the heading Illegal fees abundant at religious office in Maluku, the Ministry of Religious Affairs, after having consulted its provincial office, would like to explain the matter as follows.

Within the context of an effort to recruit new civil servants in the Maluku province, candidates who pass written and oral exams were required to pay a fee used for financing a psychological test and background check. The psychological test was carried out by the manpower office and the background check by the local military command.

All documents of candidates were processed in Jakarta. It was the wish of successful candidates that documents were taken in person to Jakarta by staff of the personnel department, not using the post office or other expedition agencies, for safety and security reasons. For these reasons they were willing to pay the transportation and living costs of staff when in Jakarta. Out of 106 documents, 104 had been processed and delivered to respective candidates.

The money collected from candidates was partly used for making test copies. However, in response to the social correction, the Maluku Religious Office has decided to refund candidates' money, except that which was spent on psychological tests and background checks.

In regards to the madrasah (private Islamic-oriented schools) which were to be given government-owned status, we need to stress that the Religious Office has never collected fees from any madrasah concerned. However, some madrasah that enthusiastically wanted to be given government status voluntarily contributed money to the Religious Office. Their money has also been returned by the office.

H MUCHTAR ZARKASYI

Head of Bureau for Law

and Public Relations

Ministry of Religious Affairs

Jakarta