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.