Ex-ministers 'richer for the experience'

Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Announcing his personal wealth to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK)'s office here on Thursday, former tourism and culture minister I Gede Ardika implied that life was good being a cabinet minister.

"I'm grateful that after being a minister, I now have plenty of savings," he said.

Ardika's official personal wealth increased from Rp 1.314 billion (US$146,000) when he was appointed as minister in 2001, to Rp 2.395 billion and $7,650 in when his five-year term ended in October last year.

Aside from Ardika, 10 out of 12 other former ministers also declared increased personal wealth after ending their terms.

Their assets include non-transferable assets, vehicles, farm, securities, savings and other belongings.

The most significant increase was shown in the wealth of former state minister of state enterprises Laksmana Sukardi, which reached a whopping Rp 42.473 billion, making him the richest former minister on Thursday's list. His wealth was only worth Rp 26.103 billion before assuming his ministerial post.

Laksamana's declaration, unusually, included no U.S. dollar amounts.

Meanwhile, former forestry minister Mohamad Prakosa was one of the poorest Cabinet ministers in 2001, with only Rp 753 million. By 2004, this had increased to Rp 1.134 billion.

The exception on the list would be former minister of industry and trade Rini Soewandi.

Her total assets in 2001 were Rp 73.987 billion and US$351,361. Three years later, however, the assets had dropped to Rp 48.072 billion with debts of US$1.236 million.

Also on Thursday, State Minister of National Development Planning Sri Mulyani Indrawati declared total assets of Rp 2.119 billion and US$234,844.

"I only have one car -- a 1997 Toyota Kijang van," Sri replied to a journalist's question as to why her vehicle was only worth Rp 50 million.

However, the list did not detail where the former and current ministers got their assets from. The take-home pay of a Cabinet minister in 2003 was only Rp 20.5 million a month, a miniscule amount by international standards.

KPK deputy chairman Sjahruddin Rasul said at least nine former Cabinet members were yet to report their wealth to his office.

They were former chief economic minister Dorodjatun Kuntjoro- Jakti, former state minister for development in eastern Indonesia Manuel Kaisieppo, former state minister of communications and information Syamsul Mu'arif, former state minister of the environment Nabiel Makarim, former state minister of women's empowerment Sri Redjeki Soemaryoto, former minister of manpower and transmigration Jacob Nuwa Wea, former minister of communications Agum Gumelar, former minister of defense Matori Abdul Djalil and former attorney general M.A. Rachman.

There are about 162 legislators and 16 DPD legislators, including cosmetics queen Mooryati Soedibyo, who have not yet submitted lists of their wealth.

"Unfortunately, there are no sanctions for those who delay reporting their wealth. We have sent them letters to urge them to report. If this fails we will publish their names in every available media," Sjahruddin said. The KPK would verify all the wealth soon, he said.

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Assets of former ministers

No. Name Position Total wealth Total wealth

(2001) (2004)

1. Achmad Sujudi Minister of health Rp 1.582b Rp 2.515b 2. Alimarwan Minister of coopera- Rp 1.747b Rp 4.403b

Hanan tives and small and US$106,229 US$298,017

medium enterprises 3. Bungaran Agriculture minister Rp 1.437 b Rp 2.714 b

Saragih US$159,254 US$215,848 4. Hari Sabarno Home minister Rp 1.314b Rp 6.417b

US$10,000 US$45,000 5. I Gede Ardika Tourism and Rp 1.352b Rp 2.395b

culture US$7,650 6. Kwik Kian Gie National Rp 7.877b Rp 12.076b

dev. planning/

Bappenas chairman 7. Laksamana State Rp 26.103b Rp 42.473b

Sukardi enterprises 8. Feisal Tamin Administra- Rp 8.238b Rp 8.543b

tive reforms US$25,000 US$51,363 9. Moh. Prakosa Forestry minister Rp 753 m Rp 1.134b 10.Rini Soewandi Industry and Rp 73.987 b Rp 48.072b

trade minister US$351,361 -US$1.236m 11.Soenarno Settlement and Rp 1.731 b Rp 4.449b

regional infra- US$48,683 US$78,580

structure 12.Abdul Malik National education Rp 3.706 b Rp 5.308 b

Fadjar minister US$2,952 US$4,056