Monopoly helps certain officials, says legislator

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)