Councilor upset over fake documents

JAKARTA (JP): A councilor expressed concern yesterday over the many fake documents used by construction contractors handling city development projects.

Helmy A.R. Syihab of Commission D for development affairs said the fake documents were produced by municipality officials, who were very open to bribery by developers.

The circulation of the bogus documents was allegedly made possible by officials who acted as brokers in the implementation of the projects.

"This problem has been going on for years. It's time to stop it now," he said without mentioning the parties involved in the case.

Helmy urged the city administration to take stern action against the offenders to eliminate the collusion.

He explained that the fake documents could easily be identified by the different logo of the state-owned money printing company Perum Peruri on the paper on which the documents were printed.

"The city should impose a stern punishment on officials who are found guilty of violating the rules," he said.

Harun Al Rasyid, the chairman of the city's pre-qualification committee, urged contractors intending to take part in tenders for city projects to apply directly to the committee on the ground floor of the City Administration office on Jl. Merdeka Selatan 8-9, Central Jakarta.

Harun said that contractors should stop using brokers to help eliminate unlawful brokering.

"Don't apply through any broker or other third parties. If contractors get into trouble later, nobody can help them," he said.

Many people said applicants preferred to use brokers because of the complicated procedures and arduous bureaucracy involved in applying through the committee.

However, both Helmy and Harun said the situation could be improved if contractors stopped using the brokers.

"It has to work both ways. On the one hand the city must improve its officials' mentality, while on the other the contractors should stop choosing the easy way through the brokers," Helmy said. (07)