Councilor upset over fake documents

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)