KPK, APPI call for ruling on gifts for officials

KPK, APPI call for ruling on gifts for officials

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and the Association
of Indonesian Gifts Entrepreneurs (APPI) called on Wednesday for
the government to issue a regulation on gifts for state
officials.

The statement was the latest move involving a series of
protests from parcel vendors over a KPK policy banning state
officials from getting parcels from anyone but relatives
and friends.

KPK deputy chairman Erry Riyana Hardjapamekas said that the
commission remained firm in its stance, but called on the
government to regulate the issue.

"We're sorry for parcel vendors but we still believe that
receiving gifts from anyone but family or friends would open the
door to collusion and corruption," he explained following a
meeting with APPI chairwoman Fahira Fahmi Idris.

Erry repeated the commission's request for the government to
limit the value of gifts that could be given to officials.

"We're not banning the purchase of gifts. But, if people give
them to state officials in connection with their positions, it is
considered a gratuity," he said, referring to any form of gifts,
including money, for state officials in connection with their
positions.

According to Law No. 30/2003 on KPK, state officials must
report such gratuities to the commission, which then decides
whether they are above board or not. Otherwise, the commission
will confiscate such items and hand them over to the state.

Fahira, a daughter of Manpower and Transmigration Minister
Fahmi Idris and owner of a large-scale gifts company, also asked
the government to issue a regulation with specific information on
giving gifts.

"We ask the government to issue a regulation within one or two
days. We'll meet them soon," she said, adding that a quick move
was mandatory to save their seasonal business.

Fahira stated that she was supportive of the anticorruption
drive, but most of their gifts went to state officials.

"Some 50 percent of the gifts are for state officials," she
said, while adding that the KPK should have issued the ban months
before Idul Fitri, Christmas, New Year and the Chinese New Year,
when the gift business was especially brisk.

Fahira said many small-scale gift vendors could suffer, but
her business was not affected by the ban.

The protest from gift vendors and makers may be seen as a
challenge to the country's recent moves against corruption.

KPK's decision to ban gifts for state officials has been
hailed and supported by many government officials, legislators
and anticorruption activists.

Earlier in the day, members of the House of Representatives
Commission VI visited several gift shops.

Commission VI chairperson Khofifah Indar Parawansa said that
the government had to consider the presence of people who make a
living in the business of selling such presents.

Indonesians traditionally send fancily decorated packages of
food and candy to their relatives, friends or respected figures
during Idul Fitri, Christmas or other major holidays.

However, many companies or state officials' subordinates are
in the habit of sending sometimes elaborate gifts to government
officials in order to get on their good side to create business
opportunities and other privileges.

As a result, many of the parcels from the latter group may
contain valuable goods ranging from electronic gadgets to
fashionable to silverware.