Controversial decree on Kopri functionaries to be revised
Controversial decree on Kopri functionaries to be revised
JAKARTA (JP): Institute of State Personnel Administration
(BAKN) chief Sofian Effendi said the government would revise the
controversial ministerial decree awarding structural ranks to
functionaries in the Civil Servants Corps (Korpri).
"State Minister of Administrative Reforms Freddy Numberi, who
issued the controversial decree on Feb. 1, 2000, has agreed to
revise it out of fear it could spark protests. Moreover, Korpri
is not a part of the bureaucracy," he told The Jakarta Post on
Wednesday.
The ministerial decree, which should have taken effect on Feb.
1, gives ranks to members of Korpri's executive board, Korpri
functionaries in ministries, state-owned companies as well as
Korpri chapters in provinces, regencies, subdistricts and
villages.
Should the decree be enacted, the Korpri functionaries would
deserve treatment similar to those of high-ranking officials,
including a spectacular increase in structural allowances which
range from 500 percent to 2,000 percent.
The Korpri chief, his or her deputies, the secretary-general
and heads of Korpri units in state departments are awarded with
the highest ranking of I A, while chiefs of Korpri's provincial
chapters are ranked an I B echelon.
The decree stipulates that ranks are awarded to civil servants
employed in the civil servants organization.
Sofian said if the decree was enforced the government would
have to spend some extra Rp 608 billion annually for civil
servants who hold posts in Korpri.
According to the decree, BAKN is tasked with enforcing the
regulation, but Sofian said the administrative body would comply
with the stipulation pending a significant adjustment.
He insisted that Korpri is an independent mass organization
according to the 1999 State Employees Law, and was therefore not
part of the bureaucracy.
In the past Korpri was incorporated in the bureaucracy as one
of the three pillars of then ruling party Golkar.
Korpri chairman Feisal Tamin said the decree's issuance was
merely aimed at empowering Korpri officials in fighting for civil
servants' interests.
"It is natural if Korpri's functionaries are included and paid
equal to officials in the bureaucracy because they work for the
interests of the two organizations," Feisal, a former secretary-
general of the home affairs ministry, said.
He said that Korpri was a part of the bureaucracy, given the
fact that all its members are civil servants and employees of
state-owned companies.
Meanwhile, Mochtar Buchori, a legislator from the Indonesian
Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), criticized any
plans to issue the controversial decree.
"The decree proves that the government does not care about
teachers and low-ranking civil servants who still live in
poverty," he said.
He said the government, instead of announcing a delay, should
annul the decree because it violates the Civil Servants Law.
He pledged to bring the controversial decree to his faction's
next meeting for discussion. (rms)