Govt efficiency

Govt efficiency

From Koran Tempo

As the state enterprise privatization program has signally failed to reach its target, State Minister of State Enterprises Laksamana Sukardi has suggested reducing the salaries of all ministers. Also, the International Monetary Fund has recommended a retrenchment of the state budget. So, perhaps, we need a national campaign on efficiency to ensure that we no longer rely on debt to cover the state budget.

In spite of the country's huge debt, the government does not look serious enough in implementing efficiency in its expenditure. Besides salary cutbacks, ministers' perks should also be decreased. Their Volvos should be replaced by Kijang vans and they should wear simple white shirts, just as Singaporean senior officials do.

The present Cabinet needs to be streamlined, too. Perhaps, we need only 10 to 12 ministers, as some ministries could be merged. The number of first-echelon officials should also be reduced and those no longer capable in office should retire early. The number of civil servants could be cut by 30 percent to reduce costs in the routine budget. No more new civil servants should be recruited so that there will be zero growth, or contraction.

HARDIONO

Jepara, Central Java