Golkar legislator wants proper use of Dakab funds

JAKARTA (JP): Golkar legislator Ichsanuddin Noorsy called on the government on Friday to turn the Rp 836.2 billion (US$111.5 million) fund of the Dakab Foundation, formerly Golkar's financial supporter, over to the state's coffers.

Ichsanuddin revealed that the chairman of the foundation, former president Soeharto handed over the money on Nov. 3 to the government following a wrangle involving some Golkar legislators over the ownership of the fund. There are as yet no details as to how Soeharto actually handed over the money and to whom.

"The money should be treated as state revenue," he told The Jakarta Post.

The Dakab foundation was set up in July 1985 mainly to finance Golkar's social activities. Once Soeharto was no longer Golkar's chief patron, some Golkar executives including chairman Akbar Tandjung demanded that the money be handed over to the political grouping.

Ichsanuddin, a legislator for the House of Representatives' State Budget and Finance Commission VIII, said the fund should be managed through proper accounting procedures.

"The government should apply principles of transparency, accountability and efficiency to the bookkeeping and the use of the money," he said, citing the government-initiated program to resolve the food crisis.

"However, the money should not be given away as donations, but in the form of tools and equipment for people to create their own job opportunities," he said.

If the money was to be used for political activities, then transparency was in order, he said. Besides, the draft law on political parties must first be endorsed by the House before any grouping could try to obtain it.

"You can calculate how much money people in control of the funds can get from bank interest rates if it is being deposited in a bank with a 50 percent interest rate," he said.

A United Development Party (PPP) politician has said that the funds should be returned to the public as they were allegedly raised through corruption.

Meanwhile, former senior government officials, including former vice president Sudharmono, who currently runs the foundation and three other organizations -- Amal Bakti Muslim Pancasila, Supersemar and Dharmais -- said last June that the Foundation would not relinquish the funds to either Golkar or the government but would instead continue their various social projects. (imn)