Governor warns project chiefs over power abuse

Governor warns project chiefs over power abuse

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Surjadi Soedirdja warned newly
appointed city administration project chiefs over the weekend not
to misuse their leadership position to make money illegally.

"Never use your position to steer the regulations in order to
enrich yourself," Surjadi said.

Surjadi made the statement after officially appointing 457
project leaders, 434 treasurers, 105 heads of auction committees
and their secretaries in a ceremony at the City Council offices.

In his welcoming speech, Surjadi implicitly referred to the
recent scandal at Bapindo, a state-owned development bank, which
involves top government officials.

"Don't put your dignity at a stake, only for money," Surjadi
said. "Once you are proved to have accepted bribes or to have
stolen state money, you cannot fully rehabilitate your stained
reputation even though you return all the money.

"I struggled for 32 years before I eventually reach my present
position. Certainly I will not misuse my five-year term by
selling my dignity for a sum of money which will erase the 32
years of struggle," Surjadi said.

"We should remind each other to stand strong, not look out for
the fall of others," Surjadi added.

Surjadi said project chiefs must not tolerate any violation of
regulations for monetary gain and warned that he would not
hesitate to take action against those proven to have resorted to
malpractice.

Previously, city councilors echoed concerns over allegations
that project chiefs accepted bribes, or even required contractors
to give them money, amounting to as much as 20 percent of project
funds.

Alex Asmasoebrate, the chairman of the Jakarta chapter of PDI,
once told reporters he had evidence of such practices, supplied
by a person who had taken part in the city's projects.

"I have the receipts with me now if you want to see," Alex had
said. (06)