Councillors suspect graft at waste incinerator purchase
Councillors suspect graft at waste incinerator purchase
Ahmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
City councillors urged the city inspectorate on Friday to
investigate possible irregularities in the purchase of 10 garbage
incinerators worth Rp 3.2 billion (US$355,555) last year.
Chairman of the City Council Commission D for development
affairs Sayogo Hendrosubroto urged the city administration to
take legal action against officials involved in the alleged
malfeasance.
Sayogo of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
Perjuangan) told reporters that several councillors inspected two
of the 10 incinerators which were installed in Penjernihan area,
Central Jakarta and Tebet area, South Jakarta, last month.
He said that only two incinerators were bought last year, not
10 as reported.
The scandal may involve several councillors as sources at the
Jakarta Sanitation Agency earlier said several councillors had
pressured the agency's executives to grant the tender to certain
companies for the purchase of the incinerators.
Councillor Ali Imron Hussein of the United Development Party
(PPP), who was alleged involved in the tender process, denied the
accusation.
"In the name of God I've never been involved. It's also funny
(that I should be accused of being involved) since we grilled the
Jakarta Sanitation Agency only last week about the tender," said
Ali, who is also Commission D deputy chairman.
He said that the commission found that the winner of the
tender, PT Tampuro Jara Indo, had used a fake address on Jl.
Kebon Sirih, which is a rented house.
He also said that during the hearing, the sanitation agency
executive could not give a satisfactory explanation.
The council is planning to summon executives of the agency to
clarify the matter, he added.
Selamat Limbong, who was installed as head of the sanitation
agency last month, confirmed that the agency only bought two
incinerators last year. He promised to investigate the
possibility of corruption related to the purchasing of the
incinerators.
The alleged malfeasance was believed to be committed last year
when the agency head was Saksono Soehodo.
Due to a dispute with Bekasi Municipality over Jakarta's main
garbage dump in Bantar Gebang, City Governor Sutiyoso dismissed
Saksono and appointed the assistant for development affairs to
the City Secretary Irsal Jamal as the agency's acting head.