Govt launches drive to combat corruption
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)