Councillor quits in protest of corruption

Kasparman, The Jakarta Post, Padang, West Sumatra

In a rare political move, a politician from the National Mandate Party (PAN) has decided to resign as a member of the West Sumatra legislative council in protest against the legislature ignoring local people's aspirations.

M. Zein Gomo tendered his official resignation to the council speaker on Monday. It came amid an investigation into his colleagues in connection with corruption in the council.

"Why should I continue in my position as a councillor if my voice is no longer listened to?" he asked journalists.

Since May 22, 2001, Zein had skipped meetings at his legislative office, saying councillors ignored the aspirations of local people and instead were involved in rampant corruption.

He explained that the graft included Rp 274 million in Idul Fitri bonuses given by state-owned firm PT Semen Padang to the 54 members of the council for two years.

The company also provided assistance funds for 10 legislators to go on an Islamic pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, he added.

All the funds, Zein alleged, were part of efforts to bribe the councillors to support the controversial spin-off of Semen Padang.

He also accused local legislators of involvement in corruption, whereby the provincial budget increased funding allocations for the council, which later caused financial irregularities.

Zein said his resignation was also due to the council's refusal to heed his demands for legislators to investigate the alleged financial irregularities and ensure transparency in drafting the budget.

He demanded that the council establish a team of experts to oversee its duties and other activities, which were in violation of existing laws. This was also rejected.

Not only were his demands ignored, Zein said, he was even ostracized by other council members after making his demands.

He said that thus far the council had no political will to eradicate corruption as its members could not rid themselves of such unlawful habits.

"The council has no conscience to respond to the people's interests," he added.

However, Zein's resignation was perceived by his critics as a political move aimed at trying to escape legal action against legislators accused of involvement in irregularities associated with the 2002 budget.

They argued that Zein's PAN was among the factions in the council that approved the budget.

The critics blasted Zein's move to skip council meetings, saying the decision was made only as a token gesture, to appear that he was siding with the aspirations of local people who demanded that corruption in the legislature be investigated.

The corruption allegations are being dealt with by the West Sumatra Prosecutor's Office, and deputy speaker of the council Masfar Rasyid has been detained.