KPK publishes wealth of five ministers

KPK publishes wealth of five ministers

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Coordinating Minister for the Economy Aburizal Bakrie has
declared assets worth a whopping Rp 1.19 trillion (US$132
million), making him perhaps the richest serving state official.

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) published on
Friday the wealth reports of Aburizal and four fellow ministers,
out of 25 Cabinet ministers who had declared their assets to the
antigraft body.

Other ministers whose wealth was publicly announced on Friday
were the State Minister of Culture and Tourism Jero Wacik (Rp 15
billion), Minister of Religious Affairs M. Maftuh Basyuni (Rp 7.7
billion and $125,000), State Minister of the Environment Rachmat
Witoelar (Rp 5.5 billion plus $26,114) and State Minister for the
Development of Disadvantaged Regions Saifullah Yusuf (Rp 4.2
billion).

Aburizal is a prominent businessman and founder of the Bakrie
Group.

The wealth reports were made public at the KPK office on Jl.
Veteran, Central Jakarta. Aburizal and Jero were present at the
event.

The KPK did not provide details of the assets declared by the
ministers.

Following the announcement, the public have been asked to
provide the KPK with input on possible irregularities in the
wealth reports.

Deputy KPK chairman Sjahruddin Rasul said the commission was
completing its verification of the wealth reports submitted by 20
ministers.

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security
Affairs Widodo Adi Sucipto, State Minister of Youth and Sports
Affairs Adhyaksa Dault, State Minister of Administrative Reforms
Taufik Effendi, State Secretary Yusril Ihza Mahendra, State
Minister of State Enterprises Sugiharto, Attorney General Abdul
Rahman Saleh, Minister of Home Affairs M. Ma'ruf,
Minister of Defense Juwono Sudarsono, Minister of Trade Mari E.
Pangestu, Minister of Health Siti Fadilah Supari and Minister of
Industry Andung Nitimihardja have not declared their wealth to
the KPK for unknown reasons.

Sjahruddin called on the ministers to submit their wealth
reports soon, although the KPK has extended the deadline to Dec.
20.

Law No. 20/2003 on the KPK does not spell out punishments for
state officials who fail to submit their wealth reports on time.
The law says the officials must declare their assets two months
after their installment, or their resignation in the case of
state officials leaving office.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has allowed the KPK to
publicly announce the assets of his Cabinet members, in line with
his commitment to the fight against corruption, collusion and
nepotism, which he declared on his first day in office.

The KPK is also examining the wealth reports of House of
Representatives and Regional Representatives Council members who
were installed on Oct. 1.

Assets of ministers

No. Minister Total wealth

1. Aburizal Bakrie Rp 1,190,139,383,713 minus US$35,000

2. Jero Wacik Rp 15,561,250,000

3. M. Maftuh Basyuni Rp 7,749,000,000 plus US$125,000

4. Rahmat Witoelar Rp 5,517,929,540 plus US$26,114

5. Saifullah Yusuf Rp 4,213,800,000