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