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)