Korpri pledges reform to retain members

By Yudha Kartohadiprodjo

JAKARTA (JP): "We, members of the Civil Servants Corps (Korpri), as part of the state apparatus, pledge to always put the state's and the people's interest above our individual's or corps'."

The excerpt is part of the Satya Prasetya pledge that each member of the four million-strong Korpri has to memorize and recite at the obligatory flag-raising ceremony on the 17th day of the month in the courtyard of their office.

Every line of the pledge is chanted loud and clear by the civil servants in their blue batik shirts. And yet it is no secret that it is all lip service.

Low compliance of the pledge has increasingly raised questions as to whether Korpri, as the only formal organization for civil servants in Indonesia, is still needed.

With a possible change of government following the recent general election, Korpri has come under public scrutiny. Its political loyalty to government servants, rather than to the public, has reduced Korpri's credibility.

Critics say the government has been using Korpri as a vote- getter for the Golkar Party.

Korpri was formed following the issuance of a presidential decree ahead of the 1971 elections, which obliged every civil servant to become a Korpri member and to affiliate themselves with Golkar. The controversial law was abolished earlier this year.

"The law that obliged civil servants to support the ruling party is a misinterpretation of good governance," says sociologist Ignas Kleden.

Although the 1974 Basic Law of Public Administration guarantees political rights to government employees, a conflict of interest forces civil servants to stick with Korpri.

Most of the organization's leadership positions are held ex- officio by senior government officials. Therefore, a civil servant's involvement in Korpri is considered in assessments of their performance, which determine their career.

In the past, each Korpri member was required to recruit 10 people to support Golkar.

It was not until the June 7 elections that civil servants were free to choose their own political affiliation.

Ignas describes the practice of obliging Korpri members to affiliate with Golkar as a "patrimonial traditional". In such a system, the whole country serves the needs of the ruler. The idea opposes the concept of modern bureaucracy, he says.

"The modern bureaucracy belongs to the state. Like the Army, the bureaucracy aims to serve and protect the state. The government may come and go, but the bureaucracy remains."

Of course, not all civil servants are happy with the obligation of lending their political loyalty to Golkar.

"Korpri members became a part of society which had no voice," said Korpri member Risno, an employee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Their personal views did not count, while their loyalty to the government was exploited to favor Golkar.

Exploitation, however, did not only come in to play at election time. Each month, many civil servants' salaries were reduced by various obligatory donations.

"We had become a target of exploitation, while getting practically nothing in return," Risno explained.

The sentiment, however, differed from one ministry to another. Yanti (not her real name), an employee of the Indonesia Central Bank (BI) for 20 years, has experienced the benefits of being a Korpri member throughout her career.

"We are entitled to various facilities. In my office Korpri is divided into sections overseeing different affairs, such as religion, health and sport, to serve the needs of BI's employees," she said.

For example, for only a modest fee, a BI Korpri member from her office can swim at the Cilandak Sport Center in South Jakarta.

However, Yanti acknowledged that such benefits might not be available at all other government offices.

A new law that allows greater independence for BI has ruled that it is no longer compulsory for BI employees to join Korpri.

"It seems that my office takes better care of its employees (than other offices do)," she added.

Despite all the perks, Yanti observed that the monthly recital of Sapta Prasetya wearied many of her colleagues. Some of them choose to skip the ceremony until their supervisor intervenes.

With the lure of promises for better facilities and support for it's members, Korpri's central leadership are trying to avoid any further meltdown of the organization.

Prior to Soeharto's downfall last year, the Korpri chapter at the Ministry of Forestry was dissolved by its members and Korpri members at the Ministry of Information followed suit last month.

Korpri headquarters has listed possible benefits that may be available in the near future for civil servants who retain their membership.

Among the benefits promised are discounts for civil servants and their families when they shop at state-owned companies.

"As a means to increase the welfare of our members, we are currently developing a cooperation agreement with the Ministry of Transportation to provide travel discounts," said Soenarko, a Korpri deputy chief in charge of members welfare.

Korpri has already struck an agreement with Damri, the State Bus Company, to provide a 20 percent discount for its members.

The new Korpri leadership, which assumed office three months ago, is seeking a raise in civil servant's salary and an increase in the quality of monthly rations of rice, as well as providing housing to lower echelon Korpri members.

The leadership has also promised to reform itself.

With the stated intention of concentrating on Korpri's reform, Feisal Tamin resigned from his position as secretary-general of the Ministry of Home Affairs in May to become the organization's chairman.

Minister of Home Affairs Syarwan Hamid said "Korpri needs special attention because of its formidable membership."

Promises to reform Korpri have met with a skeptical reaction from the public, especially after Tamin's objection to the dissolution of the Korpri chapter at the Ministry of Information.

Tamin insisted that civil servants may not quit Korpri unless they also quit the civil service.

"The organization should focus on its structure. It is impossible for the organization to help its members if it is still top heavy," said Rivqi Syarif of the Indonesian Institute for Independent Judiciary.

In the past, Korpri executives forced their will on its members, Rivqi added.

"In order for the organization to fight for its members' rights, the members should have the freedom to decide whether they will stay or go. You just can not force them to become members," said Ignas, airing a similar sentiment.