Ignorance feigned over relief funds

Tony Hotland, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The few, brave people making an effort to unravel corruption in the disbursement of relief funds face a daunting challenge as local officials questioned in connection with the rampant practice suddenly seem to be suffering "amnesia", a House of Representatives investigator says.

"It makes sense if many brokers were on the move, but when we asked (the local officials) about these brokers, they said they no longer remembered them. It's as if the officials were suffering from amnesia," said the House disciplinary committee chairman Slamet Effendi Yusuf on Monday.

The committee members have just returned from a series of meetings with governors, regents and officials at the regional development planning agency for verification of reports that local officials and certain House members demanded fees for their role in the disbursement of 2005 post-disaster relief funds.

More regions will be visited soon, said Slamet.

The committee has questioned seven lawmakers and a House commission V staffer in relation to the cases, which have further tainted the image of a number of institutions.

"The local officials were quite cooperative, but we wish they would have helped us more," said Slamet of the Golkar Party.

Disciplinary committee deputy Tiurlan Hutagaol shared a similar experience when gathering accounts from local officials. He said the officials claimed to have no knowledge about alleged brokers whose pictures were shown to them.

"They said they didn't remember the faces. But we found out that the 180 regencies that involved brokers to disburse relief funds actually have offices in Jakarta and allocate budgets for lobbying to obtain the central government funds," she said.

Tiurlan said the local officials admitted to being offered by people who claimed to have connections with House members.

"They're the brokers. They're apparently not House members, but claim to have a link to lawmakers. They asked for fees ranging from 4 percent up to 20 percent," she said.

Several names of non-House members appeared on two documents submitted to the disciplinary committee, which typically identify them as "coordinator" for the disbursement of funds for disaster- affected areas.

One of them is A. Mustakim, who turns out to be an assistant to Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) legislator Mudahir from House Commission V overseeing public works.

Slamet said the disciplinary committee would summon Mudahir to seek the whereabouts of Mustakim, who has disappeared since the scandal surfaced a few weeks ago.

Meanwhile, head of the Financial Transaction Report and Analysis Center (PPATK) Yunus Husein said he was prepared to help check on any suspicious transaction in the accounts of House members.

Slamet himself has talked with the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), which has the authority to bug the phones and offices of state officials, in a bid to gain key information for suspected cases.

"Most of the House members are very supportive and approve of the KPK being involved. We hope those who're not will follow suit," he said.