Collusion and bureaucracy

Collusion and bureaucracy

Economic guru Prof. Soemitro Djojohadikusumo has spoken out
sharply against the practice of collusion between government
officials and conglomerates. Our senior economist admits that
collusion occurs everywhere, even in industrially advanced
countries. This, however, is no excuse for tolerating the
practice.

This kind of statement is actually nothing new. But complaints
against the practice have increased lately since a number of
large-scale economic crimes emerged into the public view and
since it became known that they occurred due to collusion between
officials and businessmen. The Bapindo case is a prime example.

Clearly, the root of the problem is bureaucratic weakness. For
certain, collusion takes place as a result of relationships
between the bureaucracy and the business world that are two
close. This would not be a problem if those close relationships
existed on a purely professional plane. But more often than not
they occur in the context of collusion.

It will be clear that such overly close relationships
constitute a form of conditioning that has developed as a result
of the excessively large role which the bureaucracy plays. The
bureaucracy decides when certain facilities should be given or
withheld. As a consequence, groups for approaching the
bureaucrats by a variety of means have formed.

The only way to curtail this practice is to start from above.
The reason is simple: collusion is an infraction involving
government officials. The ones who can prevent collusion or
impose sanctions are in superior positions. This means that a
genuine political will is needed.

At the same time the public must be given the freedom to
control the bureaucracy. In this respect the roles of the press,
the House of Representatives and the public at large are of
decisive importance.

The question is, do we dare to do it?

-- Republika, Jakarta