Jusuf asked to declare all assets

JAKARTA: The Public Servants' Wealth Audit Commission (KPKPN) asked Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Jusuf Kalla on Friday to declare all of his assets to the commission for audit purposes.

John Pieris, a deputy to the chairman of the KPKPN section responsible for auditing the wealth of state officials serving in the executive, said that since his recruitment to the cabinet, Kalla had yet to report several plots of land worth billions of rupiah in his hometown in the South Sulawesi capital of Makassar. In his response, Kalla said he needed more time to assess the value of these properties.

Kalla, also a business tycoon, stated his assets as being worth Rp 134 billion to the KPKPN, but this did not match his total assets, which included his salary as a minister.

"Should Pak Kalla report his income during his time as a minister, the value of his assets will be worth more than reported to the KPKPN," John said.

Kalla was appointed minister of trade and industry by President Abdurrahman Wahid in 2000. He dismissed Kalla only months after taking office on the ground that he was involved in corruption. --JP