Misconduct must be eliminated: Scholar

JAKARTA (JP): The rampant misconduct in the political elite should be wiped out if Indonesia wants to survive the current economic crisis, a respected scholar said yesterday.

Franz Magnis-Suseno of the Jakarta-based Driyarkara School of Philosophy warned that the crisis would shatter the country's 30 years of achievement unless a total correction was made.

Magnis said when addressing a discussion that the misconduct included the rampant corruption, collusion, and nepotism practiced by the country's political elite over the past three decades.

"The lack of a check-and-balance mechanism has seen the misconduct become rife. They are changing from bad to worse," he told a discussion on social transformation organized by the Christian University of Indonesia.

Magnis said he would like to see the correction made in a good spirit and peaceful fashion.

"It should be free of bad attitudes like hatred, retaliation and so on, but be positive and scrap policies that are not right. From now on everything must be made right," he said.

In the economy, for instance, policies are needed that could economically empower people, Magnis said.

"Instead of ceaselessly blaming conglomerates for the current crisis, legislation should be prepared to stop projects being awarded to the same few businesspeople," he said.

Magnis said the correction would be possible only if there was "openness and democratic participation from all members of society".

"Decision-making processes should not be dominated by the political elite otherwise efforts to reform will end in failure," he warned.

Magnis, who is a Catholic priest and author of several books on political ethics and philosophy, also called on all parties in society to put national interests above those of individuals.

"Every maneuver that could spark conflict in society must be stopped," he said.

In Yogyakarta, dozens of democracy activists issued a statement yesterday in which they declared "war against corruption, nepotism and collusion."

The misconduct that had become commonplace among bureaucrats, they said in a five-point statement, had weakened the pillars on which the nation was founded.

The group also called for political reform to make it possible for Indonesia to emerge the current economic crisis.

The statement was read out by Revrisond Baswir, a Gadjah Mada University economist, during a seminar featuring Moslem scholar Amien Rais and theologian Th. Sumartana. (aan/23/44)