Govt to remove immigration chief to improve service

Govt to remove immigration chief to improve service

JAKARTA (JP): The government has announced it will replace the
current director general of immigration, Maj. Gen Muhammad
Mudakir, saying the position needs someone "with good discipline
and strong mental character".

Speaking after a meeting with Vice President Megawati
Soekarnoputri on Monday, Minister of Justice and Human Rights
Baharuddin Lopa said he would name candidates for the position as
soon as possible.

"Because it concerns services to the public, we need to have a
person with good discipline and strong mental character in the
office," Lopa said.

The office's performance needed a thorough overhaul, he said,
including the way it dealt with the problem of illegal
immigration.

However, Lopa said nothing about the widely acknowledged
rampant corruption in the office. It is well known there are many
immigration officials who demand bribes for services such as
issuing passports or visas.

"We are going to name the candidates as soon as possible
because actually we should have replaced Pak Mudakir a long time
ago," Lopa said. "It was delayed because we could not find
someone fit for the position."

Asked whether he would initiate legal action against Mudakir,
Lopa said it was not easy to bring people to trial without strong
evidence.

He said the ministry would announce within the next month a
further group of unscrupulous officials.

"We have recently announced names of aberrant officials -- 12
judges, seven court clerks and five immigration officers. We will
announce more names in the future."

Lopa approved administrative sanctions against the officials
last month.

However, legal experts argued the government should take
harsher action, including sending them to court.

Former minister of justice and human rights Yusril Ihza
Mahendra reportedly suggested to President Abdurrahman Wahid a
few months ago that Mudakir be replaced, but at that time the
President disagreed.

It was not clear on Monday exactly for what reasons Mudakir
was being replaced.

Mudakir, who graduated from the National Military Academy in
1968, was appointed director general to replace Maj. Gen. (ret.)
Pranowo. The change was made on Feb. 3, 1999, under former
president B.J. Habibie.

His appointment was controversial, because it overturned
Habibie's earlier choice of Lt. Gen. Jasril Yakub.

Jasril's nomination was canceled because of public protests
against corruption, collusion and nepotism in the government,
Jasril having been a former presidential military secretary.

The public also demanded a civilian fill the post, but the
then justice minister Muladi argued that a military official was
needed because the immigration chief's duties involved security
issues.

Muladi said the position dealt with matters of national law
enforcement, physical security, intelligence and coordination
with other institutions.

But a civilian might fill the post within another four years,
he said. (dja)