Minister denies paying legislators to pass bill

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Manpower Abdul Latief denied growing allegations yesterday that he had paid legislators to pass the manpower bill that his office sponsored.

He told reporters here yesterday that he did ask for money from the state-owned workers' insurance company PT Jamsostek to pay for some expenses for the House of Representatives' members deliberating the bill between July and September.

He also insisted that the amount he received was Rp 2.8 million (US$756,756) and not Rp 3.1 billion as the company's president, Abdillah Nusi, earlier said.

"Rp 2.8 billion is the final figure," he said.

"Not a single cent of the company's money was used to pay the legislators of the 1992/1997 House of Representatives."

Abdillah said the money was spent to service the legislators, including paying the expensive hotels where they stayed during some parts of the deliberation.

The House passed the bill on Sept. 11. The manpower law will become effective on Oct. 1 next year.

After the bill was passed, it drew widespread criticism for allegedly failing to protect workers' rights. The revelation that workers' money had been used to service legislators added to the ammunition for critics of Abdul Latief.

Latief told people to be patient and wait for the Development Finance Comptroller (BPKP) and the Attorney General's Office to complete their investigation into the matter.

"I am responsible (for the matter)," he said.

Attorney General Singgih separately agreed that his office cannot decide whether or not to summon Latief for questioning pending the completion of the investigation before the end of this month.

In a hearing with the House Commission I, Singgih said Latief could be questioned if the investigation indicated a crime had taken place.

Meanwhile, calls for a thorough investigation into the alleged misuse of Jamsostek's money continued yesterday.

Marzuki Darusman of the National Commission on Human Rights called for a thorough and open investigation, as well as subsequent action against any violation, in order to protect the public's trust in the government.

He also suggested that the investigation focus on the ministry, where the order for the use of the money came from, not the House members.

J. Kristiadi of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies said he would not be surprised if the funds had been misused.

"Corruption and collusion is common in this country," he said.

He said the case was interesting as the alleged mismanagement of Jamsostek's funds was "leaked" by an insider.

"This shows that some people in the bureaucracy are sick of the irregularities," he said.

Kristiadi suggested that the Supreme Audit Agency investigate the case because it is said to be more independent than the BPKP. (imn/10)