KPKPN begins massive audit of state officials

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)