KPKPN begins massive audit of state officials

JAKARTA (JP): The State Official Wealth Audit Commission (KPKPN) functionaries and members were sworn in by President Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid at the State Palace on Thursday.

Yusuf Syakir, who was elected KPKPN chairman on Wednesday, said after the ceremony that the commission had already sent forms to the President, Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri, all ministers and to its members to declare their wealth.

"The wealth of the commission's 35 members will be inspected by a public accountant while that of state officials in the executive body will be audited by the commission," Yusuf of the United Development Party (PPP) said.

He said the auditing would begin with top officials as it would serve as an example to lower ranking officials.

Yusuf, who had to resign as deputy chairman of the Supreme Advisory Council (DPA) due to his appointment to the commission, said the forms would also be distributed to officials in all state institutions and state-owned companies.

"All state officials, including the commission's members, are given one month to fill in the forms, in which they have to declare their wealth, including bank deposits," he said.

He asserted that transparency and honesty were a must in a bid to prevent suspicions and problems which may hinder the auditing process.

The audit would be conducted regularly so that any drastic increase in state officials' assets could be detected. The commission would carry out its tasks with the help of consultants from legal and economic disciplines.

"Despite its authority, the commission will entrust the National Police and the Attorney General's Office to carry out a thorough investigation into state officials who are allegedly involved in corruption.

"Our prime mission is not to investigate corruption cases but to prevent state officials from committing corruption and collusion for the sake of maintaining a clean government," he said.

The commission members will serve until 2004, during which they will audit some 50,000 state officials in provincial, mayoralty and regency administrations, legislative bodies, courts, the military, the National Police and state-owned companies.

According to KPKPN's internal rules, its members must work independently and are prohibited from holding two jobs.

Corruption

Ryaas Rasyid, whose resignation as state minister for empowerment of administrative reform was rejected by the President, hailed the commission's establishment to create a clean government.

"The commission, the first in the country's history, will be very important in helping eradicate the culture of corruption that has long tainted the bureaucracy and other state institutions," he said in the reception.

He said the government would need the commission's assistance in evaluating civil servants' wages.

"Most civil servants from the lower echelons are forced to abuse their power to earn additional income as they have to meet their family's daily needs," he said.

The law prohibits civil servants from moonlighting.

Ryaas said his office would propose a bill on a code of ethic to regulate the receiving of gifts by state officials in the bureaucracy.

"The code of ethic would regulate the value of gifts that state officials could receive and would sanction those who violate it," he said.

When asked about the qualification of the commission's members, Ryaas said that the most importance factor was their commitment to doing their tasks responsibly.

"The commission's members have passed a fit and proper test conducted by the legislative body, so they should be able to carry out the commission's mission," he said.

Several young commission members, who asked for anonymity, questioned the commitment of the commission's dominant older members, saying they were closely linked to the former corrupt New Order regime.

"We will stick to the commission's code of ethics in treating members who abuse their position in the commission," said a young member, also an activist in a mass organization.

The commission's deputy chairmen are Mas'ud Machfoedz from Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta; Momo Kelana, a retired police major general; Abdulla Hehamahua, a politician; and Chairul Imam from the Attorney General's Office. Its members are, among others, Sukri Ilyas, Paiman Manansastro, Agus Tagor, Anwar Sanusi, Thoha Rasidi, John Pieris, Petrus Selestinus, Enny Sunniyah, Inget Sembiring and Reinhart Tampubolon. (rms)