Govt loses Rp 2.76b in property barters

JAKARTA (JP): The government lost Rp 2.76 billion (US$1.17 million) in property barter deals with the private sector between October 1995 and March 1996, according to a Supreme Audit Agency (Bepeka) report released yesterday.

"We also found that the completion of properties (buildings) valued at Rp 2.59 billion, designed to be the trade-in for government's fixed assets, fell behind schedules," the agency's Chairman J.B. Sumarlin said.

Sumarlin submitted the agency's audit report on state finances, including state companies, for the second semester of the 1995/1996 fiscal year to the House of Representatives.

Bepeka, as opposed to the Government Comptroller (BPKP) which is accountable to government, is a high state institution which reports only to the House. Both agencies are responsible for auditing state finances, including local administrations' and state companies' budgets.

Citing several other findings from the Bepeka audit, Sumarlin said Rp 90.35 billion and US$22.99 million (acquisition prices) worth of state assets were not yet accounted for in an annual inventory report.

Bepeka also found that 24,000 hectares owned by government agencies had not been certified according to law, he said.

House Speaker Wahono welcomed the report as valuable input for the legislature in its deliberation of the proposed 1997/1998 state budget beginning in April.

"We hope Bepeka will further improve the effectiveness of its audit to help the House better execute its supervisory role regarding the state budget," Wahono said.

Wahono re-emphasized the urgent need to abolish collusion between businessmen and government officials in the coming globalization era.

"We should be able to set a good example in developing good cooperation between the private sector and government bureaucracy toward Indonesia Incorporated," Wahono added. (vin)