Councilors call for dismissal of Dolog Jaya boss
Councilors call for dismissal of Dolog Jaya boss
JAKARTA (JP): Councilors on Monday strongly urged Governor
Sutiyoso to recommend the dismissal of the current chief of the
Jakarta Logistics Agency (Dolog Jaya), Achmad Zawawi, for his
failure to stop widespread fraud and malpractice associated with
the distribution of rice in the city.
The head of the United Development Party (PPP) faction in the
council, Achmad Suaidy, and Sumekar K.W. and Lukman Mokoginta,
his counterparts from the Armed Forces (ABRI) and Indonesian
Democratic Party (PDI) factions respectively, said Zawawi must
have been aware that precious rice stocks were being siphoned off
by fraudulent distributors, but had done nothing to stop the
practice.
Lukman said the governor could sent the recommendation for
Zawawi's dismissal directly to President B.J. Habibie, rather
than turning to his supervisors in the State Logistics Agency
(Bulog).
"The Dolog Jaya chief deserves to get fired. We can all see
that he (Zawawi) has done nothing to stop those who have been
reaping profits from the suffering of others," Suaidy said.
Lukman insisted: "If there is enough evidence, he (Zawawi)
could even be brought before a court to answer for his actions."
Sumekar added: "We desperately need honest officials to sort
out the rice distribution system and stabilize prices."
Last week, police questioned at least 26 people in connection
with a number of alleged offenses pertaining to rice
distribution. Eighty two thousand tons of rice were seized as
evidence, 80,000 tons of which belonged to Dolog Jaya and had
allegedly been kept for more than six months at a rented
warehouse in Pulogadung industrial estate, East Jakarta.
Sixteen of the 26 people were questioned for their alleged
role in illegal rice transactions. Nine others were taken to city
police headquarters for questioning after they were caught red-
handed while attempting to ship 1,900 tons of rice to neighboring
Malaysia. The last person in custody stands accused of mixing
poor quality rice with good quality rice to deceive customers.
Promise
Separately on Monday, Governor Sutiyoso vowed to dismiss any
Dolog Jaya officials found to be involved in either hoarding the
commodity or issuing distribution contracts to unauthorized
distributors.
"Whatever the reasons, whether as a result of manipulation or
incompetence, I must replace the officials who are responsible,"
the governor said.
Sutiyoso said he had asked the city's inspector to cooperate
with the police investigation.
"We'll help the police," he said.
One of the 16 people apprehended last week in the Dolog Jaya
office on Jl. Perintis Kemerdekaan in North Jakarta is the chief
of the agency's distribution section, identified only as E.D.
The latter's superior, Dolog Jaya's deputy chief Saean Ahmad,
was also questioned by the police later.
The remaining 15 allegedly possessed rice distribution
contracts, but on further investigation it was found that none of
their names were on Dolog's list of registered distributors.
Reports said Zawawi would be summoned by police on Monday
following the questioning of two of his subordinates in the
agency.
However, city police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang denied
the reports, adding that the investigation of the people had not
yet been completed.
Aritonang explained that four of the nine people arrested on
Saturday at Sunda Kelapa harbor in North Jakarta had been charged
with attempting to illegally export 1,900 tons of rice to the
Malaysian city of Kuching.
"We have released the other five people because they were
just laborers," the officer said.
The four suspects, all of whom are large-scale rice traders,
were identified only as W.M., 44, a trader at Palmerah market in
Central Jakarta, L.P., 41, who operates at Duri Selatan market in
West Jakarta, and Krt, 38, and Bs, who both work at Cipinang
market in East Jakarta.
Aritonang said that during questioning, the suspects claimed
they were going to export the rice because Jakartans thought it
was of poor quality. The rice was imported with the help of a
government subsidy, he added.
He did not say where the rice had originated from.
About 600 tons of the rice has since been sold to needy
residents at several city markets for Rp 2,000 per kilogram,
almost half the current market price.
When asked about progress in the case concerning the two Dolog
Jaya officials and 15 people caught possessing illegal rice
distribution contracts, Aritonang said: "None of the suspects
have been detained. We're still just questioning them."
Dolog Jaya's deputy chief Saean Ahmad was also questioned in
connection with the discovery of 80,000 tons of rice belonging to
the agency in a rented warehouse in Pulogadung, he said.
(ind/ivy/jun)