Govt begin efforts to tackle corruption

JAKARTA (JP): The Coordinating Minister for Development Supervision and State Administrative Reforms revealed yesterday that he had ordered all ministers, governors, heads of state owned companies and related officials to speed up efforts to reduce the incidence of corruption.

The minister asked all officials to terminate projects or contracts with private companies if they found any irregularities in the deals.

The minister said immediate family, distant relatives or friends of government officials should not get any special business privileges.

However, Hartarto warned officials not to violate the existing law, including international law, with regards to contracts with third parties.

"Any ongoing projects which are corrupt in their nature or which were awarded on a collusive or nepotistic basis are expected to be renegotiated," Hartarto said after meeting with President B.J. Habibie along with Minister/State Secretary Akbar Tandjung and head of the government audit agency (BPKP) Soedarjono.

Habibie vowed to stamp out chronic corruption shortly after replacing Soeharto on May 21.

However, he pointed out the importance of distinguishing clearly between the three unhealthy practices to ensure that all citizens were equal before the law.

Hartarto distributed a circular letter which meticulously defined each of corruption, collusion and nepotism in a bid to prevent confusion among government officials.

Hartarto said that corruption, collusion and nepotism were "projects or business which had been granted certain privileges".

Opposition groups and students said the government should not waste time defining each of the practices and should get on with bringing them to an end.

The minister answered these criticisms by saying: "It is very important to alleviate (corruption) with a clear understanding to avoid arbitrary actions."

The minister also issued a strong warning to government officials tempted to grant bank loans, tax or customs privileges, exclusive rights or offer unnecessary mediation services. (prb)