Govt launches drive to combat corruption

JAKARTA (JP): The government says it is launching tough measures to combat corrupt and collusive practices in the bureaucracy in a bid to provide the public better services and to create a clean administration.

Coordinating Minister for Development Supervision and State Administrative Reform Hartarto Sastrosoenarto told the media after meeting with President B.J. Habibie yesterday that government officials of all levels had been ordered to intensify the campaign to fight corruption, collusion and nepotism.

The aim is to "create a clean and efficient government which is free from corruption, collusion and nepotism" and a bureaucracy which "gives its best services to society", Hartarto said.

Shortly after he replaced Soeharto on May 21, Habibie promised to improve the image of the government, which is seen as one of the most corrupt in the world. Soeharto's fall was attributed by some to his inability to curb corruption and control his children's business ventures.

"Our priority is to carry out reform in the government and state administration," Hartarto said.

Hartarto said he would soon issue comprehensive criteria on what actions constitute corruption, collusion and nepotism.

He said government officials were not allowed to use their authority to grant special privileges and facilities for their relatives or friends to win government projects.

"Special privileges include loans, tax breaks, monopolistic facilities and the purchasing of state assets against prevailing regulations," Hartarto said.

The minister, however, pointed out that relatives of any government official should not be prohibited from conducting business as long as they did so without receiving special privileges from the official.

"For instance, if the son of an official opens a school or a Padang food restaurant or develops an industry or a real estate business without a special facility and in line with the prevailing laws, (he should be allowed to do so)," Hartarto said.

"The 1945 Constitution guarantees the freedom to earn a living and to have a proper life," he said.

The minister also urged the media and the public to join the campaign against corruption and report violations backed up with strong evidence.

In a meeting with rectors of state and private universities from across the country yesterday, Habibie underlined the importance of setting up criteria of what constitutes corruption, collusion and nepotism.

He cited his own experience with his two sons who complained that they were being accused of obtaining their current positions merely because they were the sons of the President.

"If Father is president for a long time, I'd rather go abroad and find a new job maybe in Europe or in Malaysia," Habibie quoted one of his sons as saying.

Habibie's eldest son, Ilham, is an executive at the state aircraft manufacturer PT IPTN in Bandung. Habibie was the president of the company until his appointment as vice president in March.

"My son asked me not to be president for long since he has found it uncomfortable to work at IPTN because (people accuse him) of nepotism," he said. (prb)