Hike in civil servants pay 'no panacea for corruption'
Hike in civil servants pay 'no panacea for corruption'
PURWOKERTO, Central Java (JP): Former finance minister Fuad
Bawazier entered the fray on Monday over the government's plan to
raise high-ranking civil servants' salaries and structural
allowances, believing it would not end corruption.
He warned the policy would backfire by stirring up discord.
"This could lead to a strike among the lower-ranked civil
servants. The theory that high salaries and allowances will stop
corruption is not proven," he said.
"Those lacking money are the lower-ranked employees, and the
programs to help them remain unclear. If they go on strike for
just a week, the country will collapse."
Fuad said "external pressure" was the cause of the
government's decision to raise salaries.
Rector of Jendral Sudirman University Rubiyanto Misman
acknowledged the increase was ideal for a high-ranked employee
such as himself.
"However, the increase should not be that high compared to the
lower-ranked employees. This is a problem that could lead to
social jealousy," Rubiyanto told The Jakarta Post.
He termed as fair the Rp 9 million he would earn after the
increase.
"I appreciate the raise, but the government should provide
similar treatment to other civil servants," he said when asked if
he agreed with rectors who vowed to return the payment.
The increase in salaries and structural allowances, including
for President Abdurrahman Wahid and Vice President Megawati
Soekarnoputri, will take effect in April.
The increase in structural allowances reaching more than 1,000
percent has triggered protests by officials. The rector of Gadjah
Mada University in Yogyakarta, Prof. Ichlasul Amal, joined
university officials and staff members on Saturday in criticizing
the plan.
The rector said that with the current structure of the
bureaucracy, increasing the structural allowance would be a waste
of money.
Fuad said the decision to increase the structural allowances
of civil servants was a strong indication of the government's
tendency to side with international interests. (45/sur)