Discovery of check only the tip of the iceberg: Analysts

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)