Fit & proper tests need clarification

Fit & proper tests need clarification

JAKARTA (JP): Criteria for fit and proper tests in appointing
top officials at state-owned firms needs clarification to avoid
political interference, the Indonesian Society for Transparency
(MTI) said on Tuesday.

MTI secretary-general Erry Riyana Hardjapamekas said any fit
and proper test would be meaningless if its criteria was subject
to political interests.

"Don't let the definition of fit mean fit with certain
interest, instead of fit with the job," Erry said, following a
MTI seminar on transparency in the appointment of public leaders.

Erry commented on the government's recent ruling that requires
candidates for state-owned companies' board of directors to
undergo fit and proper tests.

He said state firms were institutions concerned with economic
productivity that should not face interference from political
interests.

Erry said the entrance of political interests would only
hamper the efficiency and performance of state firms, which in
turn would slow the recovery of Indonesia's economy.

Erry is the president director of publicly listed state
company PT Timah, which today ranks among the world's most
efficient tin mining companies.

Major state companies, such as oil and gas company PT
Pertamina, often became the target of political parties seeking
to place their members in influential positions.

However, the deputy minister for control and supervision at
the office of the State Minister of Investment and State
Enterprises Development, Bacilius Ruru, said last month that the
fit and proper test policy was not a ploy to block outside
interference.

Bacilius said the government aimed at increasing the value of
state firms by implementing good corporate governance, which only
leaders with integrity and quality could bring.

There are 157 companies under the state ministry, eight of
which are set for privatization this year, including fertilizer
company PT Pupuk Kaltim, general mining company PT Aneka Tambang
and coal mining company PT Batubara Bukit Asam.

In pushing for economic recovery, the government plans to
raise some Rp 6.5 trillion (US$874 million) from privatization.

Erry said one way to determine whether a person was fit for
the job would be to study his or her track record.

He said a candidate must show a record free of corruption,
collusion and nepotism, followed by work experience suitable to
the future position.

"I think it would be great if a future president director
would announce his or her personal wealth to the public before
being appointed," Erry said.

He said it would be even better if public accountants would
audit the personal wealth of prospective appointees.

"But if that's too much to ask, then at least candidates
should show a clean track record," he said.

Banking law expert and member of the National Ombudsman
Commission Pradjoto said thus far the public disclosure of top
government officials' wealth had yet to be introduced.

"Why is it that until now, we still haven't heard about any
disclosure of wealth," he said, adding that knowing the
candidates' academical, work and moral qualities was the purpose
of having a fit and proper test.

However, he said, such an evaluation could only be conducted
by people who were of integrity and had professional
qualities.(bkm)