Monopoly helps certain officials, says legislator
JAKARTA (JP): The government's control of state budgets and exclusive management of national wealth have produced an unchecked system, resulting in an economic monopoly that enriches certain officials, says a legislator.
"The many government officials and bureaucracy members whose wealth far exceeds their formal wages is an indication of rampant collusion and corruption," charged vice chairman of the House's Commission on State Budget Aberson M. Sihaloho.
As a result of the government's unwielding power in financial matters, there is a small group of people who control a whopping 85 percent of the economy, Aberson said.
He told The Jakarta Post here yesterday that development over the past 30 years has created great disparity and that it does not reflect the ideals ingrained in the national Constitution.
The outspoken member of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) faction said that government control has also crippled the House, making it unable to check possible corruption.
"The House members are rendered disabled to wipe out corruption and collusion," he said.
However, he also blamed the factions at the House of Representatives for relegating its many powers to the executive branch. The House, for instance, usually leaves the drawing up of state budgets to the executive alone, rather than involving itself in the process.
Another example of the House's weakness is its decision to leave much of the planning process for the construction of the proposed nuclear plant in Gunung Muria, Central Java, to the government, he said.
The House should have listened to what the people in the area had to say and defended their aspirations, rather than going along with the government's plans, he said.
"This passivity is tantamount to collusion between the House and the government," he added.
He also pointed to the House members' passivity in the face of the constant threat of dismissal which individual legislators confront when they try to voice their opinion more independently of their party's line.
"House members are continuously under the threat of being dismissed. In addition, the government exerts its influence on the chiefs of the factions and parties to force members to accept state budgets or anything else it proposes," he remarked.
Separately, deputy chairman of PDI's central board Abdul Choliq Murod also criticized the government for adopting a "hegemonic" political system which helps assure it exclusive control of the running of the state through the majority of the Golkar organization it backs.
The government has achieved this by "de-politicizing" the masses through various means, including forcing civil servants and employees of state-run companies to support the ruling Golkar, he said in Semarang, Central Java.
In addition, the government engages in smear-campaigns against the other political parties, and has established laws which place it as the organizers of the general elections, he further charged.
Abdul Choliq pointed out that the government has complete authority in the organizing of the general elections, which in the past have been marked with dishonesty and foul play. (mds/swe/har)