Discovery of check only the tip of the iceberg: Analysts
JAKARTA (JP): The cheque found in the legislature's office building, which is suspected of having been intended as a bribe for a legislator, is only one small sample that has come to light of a much bigger web of corruption involving government officials and politicians, analysts say.
"It was only the tip of the iceberg as corruption is still rampant among government officials and politicians," political analyst from the University of Indonesia (UI) Maswadi Rauf told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.
Andi Mallarangeng, another political analyst, was also of the opinion that the discovery was only a small example of what was habitually happening in the bureaucracy and the legislature, all of which, he said, was very regrettable.
Andi said such practices were endemic in the past. Government officials and officials from state enterprises often gave "gifts" to legislators in order to help smooth the passage of the bills they were sponsoring.
"If such practices still happen in this reform era, it is very regrettable," Andi said, adding that he would not be surprised to find that they were as there are still many "old hands" active both in the bureaucracy and the legislature.
A traveler's cheque worth Rp 10 million (US$1,063) was found on Monday by a cleaner named Sandi on the 8th floor of the legislature's office building, the floor occupied by lawmakers from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan).
The cheque reportedly originated from Anshari Ritonga, Director General for Budgeting at the Ministry of Finance. This was confirmed by a member of Anshari's secretarial staff, who added that the cheque was intended for PDI Perjuangan legislator Aberson Marle Sihaloho.
Both Anshari and Aberson denied any wrongdoing.
"How easy it is for them to use money which actually belongs to the public. Other people may say the amount is not significant, but not for me. Officials should account for every cent spent out of state funds," Maswadi said.
"So they are lying when they say that all expenditures of state funds are accounted for," he said.
Maswadi stressed the need to conduct a thorough investigation into the case and to punish all those involved so as to serve as an example for other government officials and politicians.
Maswadi said if there was no follow-up in the case, which had become a public controversy, government officials and politicians would feel free to engage in corruption again and again.
Imam B. Prasodjo, an activist from the Peaceful Indonesia Forum, shared Maswadi's view that an investigation was needed.
"This has become a public controversy. Only a thorough investigation can reveal the truth. If the suspects are found innocent, then their names should be rehabilitated," Imam added.
Imam hoped that the leaders of the House of Representatives and PDI Perjuangan would take part in resolving the problem as the case would affect the credibility of both the House and the country's largest party.
Both Imam and Maswadi urged the public, the press, and activists of non-governmental organizations to continuously monitor the activities of all public servants.
"There is no institution supervising the legislators. Therefore, the public, the press and also NGOs activists should act as watchdogs. This is the only effective way of controlling them," Maswadi added.
Andi proposed the enactment of a law on governance ethics to regulate various kinds of ethical issues involving public servants.
"The law should regulate, among other things, what gifts may be accepted and given by members of the executive and members of the legislature," Andi said, adding that the House needed an ethics committee to deal with such questions. (02)