Commitment to good governance 'must be genuine'

JAKARTA (JP): Observers have lauded President Soeharto's campaign for a credible government -- through his instruction that ministers declare their personal wealth and donate their first year's salaries to the poor -- but suggested the measures be enshrined in law.

Human rights activist Asmara Nababan and former Golkar legislator in the House of Representatives (DPR) Tadjuddin Noer Said commented separately yesterday on the commitment to good governance and concern for the poor.

They said the tenets should not be allowed to become symbolical and temporary measures, rather they should be translated into sustained practices.

"The ministers' wealth should not only be reported to the President, but also to the public," Nababan told The Jakarta Post.

"The ministers should disclose their wealth both before they hold their positions and after their terms are over."

Nababan, a member of the National Commission on Human Rights, said should there be any differences in an individual's wealth before and after a term in office, the ministers should explain it to the public.

Tadjuddin said he welcomed the ministers' willingness to inform the President about their personal wealth.

"It's good if they (ministers) are willing and committed to clean governance," he told the Post, "But, they should follow it up with concrete actions, including the restructuring of the legal system, law enforcement and changes in the political system."

Commenting about Soeharto and the ministers' pledge to donate their first year's basic salaries to the poor -- starting this month -- Tadjuddin said it should be applied quickly and further measures taken.

"We are very grateful about the officials' (planned) donation to the poor. Yet, there should be (other) measures to help people survive the prolonged monetary crisis."

For instance, the government should abort its reported plan to raise public transportation fares and fuel prices, he said.

"The government should also economize and simplify various state events, which usually involve a large amount of state money."

Nababan believes the donation campaign for the poor is no more than a symbolic gesture and fails to get to the heart of the problem -- poverty itself.

He called the act an effort by the government to win people's hearts and trust. But, now that the commitment has been voiced, it should be made into law.

"Donating money to the poor should no longer be merely a moral obligation. It should become a legal obligation."

Sociologist J. Nasikun from the Yogyakarta-based Gadjah Mada University, however, is opposed to the donation program.

"It will only add to speculation about government officials' corrupt and collusive practices because (the donation would) convince people the officials' side incomes are actually more than their salaries," he said.

Minister of Home Affairs R. Hartono has admitted that donating one year's salary to the poor would cause the ministers no hardship at all as their allowances and benefits are indeed bigger than their basic salaries.

What the government needs to do to restore public confidence is to bring down the skyrocketing prices of basic commodities, he said.

"It is the soaring prices of basic commodities that matters most to the people."

Asked to comment on the campaign against corruption, Nababan said an independent anticorruption body should be established charged with preventing corrupt practices and commencing legal action against offenders.

"Indonesia is widely considered one of the most corrupt countries in the world. We, therefore, need extraordinary measures to deal with the rampant corruption here."

He said the anticorruption body must have the authority to monitor and investigate whenever there were indications of corruption.

"Yet, further investigation should be conducted by authorized bodies, either the Attorney General's Office or the police." (23/imn)