House forms 20-strong team to supervise donations

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The House of Representatives leaders decided on Tuesday to form a team of 20 legislators with the task of supervising the distribution of humanitarian aid to tsunami-hit areas in Aceh and North Sumatra in order to help prevent misuse of funds.

House leaders also suggested that the President assign the Ministry of Finance to be the sole institution channeling donations contributed from foreign countries.

"The team is designed to prevent misuse of donations. We hope the public will report any indications of irregularities," deputy House speaker Muhaimin Iskandar told the press after a closed- door meeting.

Although he had not received any reports of irregularities, Muhaimin acknowledged that the move was taken to anticipate possible abuses.

The team would also supervise the use of state budget funds for related humanitarian relief work.

Concerns over possible abuses have also been raised by People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker Hidayat Nur Wahid, who urged that all donations for Aceh and North Sumatra be handled by one institution in a transparent and accountable way.

Several countries have pledged funds totaling hundreds of millions of dollars, as well as relief supplies and medical teams to help survivors in northern Sumatra.

Quakes and tidal waves hit large areas of northern Sumatra on Dec. 26, killing more than 90,000 people.

Japan is the largest donor, offering US$500 million to be distributed amongst all the tsunami-affected countries, followed by the United States with US$350 million.

Muhaimin, who is assigned to chair the supervisory team, called on the public to inform legislators if they come across indications of misuse of funds.

He gave an assurance that the House would protect people who reported misuse. All reports from the public would be taken as input for legislators so that they could trace the manipulation.

According to Muhaimin, the team would start work after the opening of the next sitting session on Jan. 10.

The public can send information via SMS to 0813 1927 6969. An e-mail address for sending reports will be announced later.

Legislators are also prepared to meet directly with members of the public, he said.

Members of the supervisory team will be taken from all 10 commissions, with each commission contributing two members.

Muhaimin added that House leaders would also hold a consultative meeting with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to discuss relief efforts in Aceh and North Sumatra sometime after Jan. 10.