Empowering the KPKPN

Empowering the KPKPN

We were all filled with disappointment and anger at finding
out that only 18 percent or approximately 4,500 out of the 25,000
forms have been returned by the officials obliged to fill out
wealth declarations.

This fact should encourage the Public Servants' Wealth Audit
Commission (KPKPN) to rack its brains and seek some breakthrough
to compel arrogant officials so that they do not ignore their
obligations in meeting the deadline and truthfully completing the
declarations as required by the regulations.

Article 216(1) of the Criminal Code imposes a maximum penalty
of four-and-a-half-months imprisonment or a fine of Rp 9,000
(which is the price of a plate of rice plus some meat and
vegetables!). This is no doubt a joke to those thick-skinned,
unconscionable officials who would rather face this farce of a
threat than report their ill-gotten wealth.

Issuing a new and more forceful regulation will take a long
time, while such data has to be obtained soon.

One way to force them would possibly be to embarrass them in
front of the public for their lack of discipline, for example, by
periodic (weekly) publication of their names, addresses and
positions in the newspapers along with "rankings" such as: "The
Most Compliant" or "The Most Obstinate" (if the KPKPN does not
know their addresses, the public should be requested to help out
and to supply additional information on their wealth or other
relevant aspects).

For easier reading, the names should be printed in bold
letters and, if considered necessary, the list should be placed
at strategic spots (like at their offices or in the vicinity of
their residences), especially in the case of those who have
already been reminded by the KPKPN three times.

Of course, this should be widely communicated in advance, say
for 15 days, so that the officials will complete their
declarations before the expiry date.

Then, if the forms have not been returned, the KPKPN should
not hesitate to blacklist those concerned.

Without a breakthrough that can embarass and put such persons
on the spot, the KPKPN will only be able to complain, destroying
its reputation and credibility in the public's eyes, just like an
old clawless and toothless tiger, unable to pounce on and bite
its prey".

WISDARMANTO GS

Jakarta