KPK to publish ministers' wealth
KPK to publish ministers' wealth
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has allowed the Corruption
Eradication Commission (KPK) to publicly announce the wealth
reports of his Cabinet members.
During a one-hour meeting on Thursday, Susilo said the Cabinet
should set an example for other state officials and uphold
principles of clean governance.
"We will announce the wealth reports of all 36 Cabinet members
after we complete verification of the reports. The President
approved our suggestion," KPK chairman Taufiqurrahman Ruki said
after the meeting.
As of Thursday, 12 ministers have declared their assets to the
KPK, with the Nov. 21 deadline drawing closer.
Susilo had asked his aides to submit their wealth reports one
week after their inauguration on Oct. 21, but State Secretary
Sudi Silalahi said the deadline had been moved back to three
weeks.
"This does not mean we are backing down from our promise --
it's just that we have so many other things to do in our first
100 days in office. (The workload) meant some of us were unable
to focus on the wealth reports," said Sudi, who is among the
ministers who have not yet declared their personal assets.
The law does not require the antigraft commission
to publicly announce the wealth reports of state officials.
Taufiqurrahman acknowledged the complicated forms for
reporting one's wealth had hindered Cabinet members from
fulfilling Susilo's original deadline. The confusion and
questions ministers caused further delays, he said.
"Some of the ministers kept calling us, and sometimes we even
had to send officials to help them fill in the forms,"
Taufiqurrahman said.
Another common difficulty facing the ministers was providing
the KPK with legal documents for their properties.
Taufiqurrahman said after their inauguration, many Cabinet
members had become fully occupied by their portfolios.
During the meeting, Susilo considered the long-standing
practice of purchasing official cars for high-ranking state
officials, with the KPK suggesting he provide them with
transportation allowances instead.
"We relayed the idea to the President, and he responded
positively," Taufiqurrahman said.
Like his predecessors, Susilo has called on all state
officials to remain thrifty. However, similar requests, token
measures and little concrete action by the past four presidents
has been unable to eradicate corruption in the country.
Taufiqurrahman and Susilo also discussed the possible
involvement of the commission in drafting new arrangements to
improve public services and eradicate corruption in the
bureaucracy, State Minister for State Administrative Reforms
Taufik Effendi said.
"(Under the plans) there will be no government officials who
can evade the KPK, especially regarding investigation into graft
cases. All government offices must be open to the commission
should they probe any corruption cases," Taufik said.