KPKPN still undecided on collusion and nepotism
KPKPN still undecided on collusion and nepotism
Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The country's campaign for a clean and accountable government
remains on hold after the State Official Wealth Audit Commission
(KPKPN) admitted on Wednesday that it was still searching for a
legal basis to fight collusion and nepotism.
Yusuf Syakir, the chief of KPKPN -- an institution expected to
eradicate the culture of corruption that has long tainted the
bureaucracy and other state institutions -- said on Wednesday
that the commission had encountered a number of problems related
to the meaning of collusion and nepotism as "the country's legal
system does not have clear definitions on the two issues".
He also told the media that the commission he chaired was not
authorized to publicize its findings.
"KPKPN has to submit the results of its investigation to the
President, the House of Representatives and the Supreme Audit
Agency (BPK)," said Yusuf, referring to Article 17 and Article 18
of Law No. 28/1999 on clean governance.
His statement came after the commission held a nine-hour
plenary meeting called to discuss a number of issues including a
clear definition of corruption, collusion and nepotism and a
mechanism for publishing the names of state officials and
legislators who refuse to declare their wealth.
As reported earlier, many state officials, including President
Megawati Soekarnoputri and her husband Taufik Kiemas, have yet to
submit verification of their wealth. Such a verification is
required to help KPKPN determine whether or not their wealth has
been obtained through corruption, collusion and nepotism.
Yusuf also said that the government had warned KPKPN to keep
within its limited budget.
The commission received Rp 32 billion in 2001, while the
budget for 2002 has yet to be decided.
Separately, Abdullah Hehamahua, deputy chairman of KPKPN in
charge of legislators' wealth said that they planned to ask for
some revision of Law No. 28/1999 as it does not grant KPKPN the
power to impose stern sanctions on legislators refusing to report
their wealth.