Ismail warns officials' children
Ismail warns officials' children
JAKARTA (JP): Children of senior government officials may not
be barred from going into business but they should know their
place, said the chairman of the United Development Party.
The children of officials should not be "greedy" and use their
parents' positions to boost business, Ismail Hasan said on
Saturday.
"It's improper for children of officials to go around
government offices introducing themselves as the son or daughter
of such and such, and then ask for some business or projects," he
was quoted by Antara news agency as saying.
"I know of some who do this," he said, although he declined to
disclose their names.
"They can go into business, but they have to be fair. They
cannot use the influence of their parents," he said.
The businesses of well-connected children became a hot topic
again last week after it was first raised by members of the House
of Representatives during a hearing with Attorney General
Singgih.
The hearing discussed the government's campaign to eradicate
corruption, including business collusion between government
officials and entrepreneurs.
Challenge
In response to a challenge, reportedly from Army Chief of
Staff Gen. R. Hartono, to pinpoint which children have abused
their parents' positions to secure business contracts, Ismail
Hasan, who is deputy speaker of the House, said there was no need
to go that far.
The House has done its job in exercising social control by
putting the issue on the national agenda, he said.
The point is that these children should know their place now
that their positions are scrutinized by the people, he said.
Two children of President Soeharto, Hutomo Mandala Putra and
Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana, have defended children of government
officials who go into business as their inalienable right.
They also stressed fair play.
"As long as these officials' children manage their businesses
fairly and help the government's projects, there's nothing wrong
with that," Hardiyanti was quoted by Antara as saying.
State Minister of Administrative Reform T.B. Silalahi said
certain regulations only bar civil servants and their spouses,
but not their children, from entering businesses.
Meanwhile, Soeprapto, the chairman of BP-7, the state agency
for the propagation of the state ideology Pancasila, concurred
that children of government officials can go into business as
long as they do it ethically.
"Those who abuse the position of their parents do not
understand Pancasila and the regulations," he told Antara.
Harmoko, the chairman of the ruling political organization
Golkar, spoke out against the attempt to single out the children
of government officials in the debate on business collusion.
Speaking during a visit to Semarang, Central Java, Harmoko
said everyone must comply with the laws and regulations.
"Whether you're the children of government officials,
teachers, journalists, farmers, rickshaw drivers, artists,
everyone has to comply with the law," he said.
"Let's not fall into this thinking that distinguishes the
children of officials and the others. They are after all citizens
of Indonesia. And every citizen of this country has the right to
earn a living." (emb)