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.