More needed to curb corruption: Experts
More needed to curb corruption: Experts
JAKARTA (JP): Senior economist and former finance minister
Frans Seda hailed on Wednesday the government's move to publicly
divulge corruption in the bureaucracy and state companies, but
said it must push on with concrete measures to form a clean
government.
Speaking after a discussion on a new government, Seda said the
actions also should include an investigation into former
president Soeharto.
"The government has already set its course, so never stop the
probe (into alleged corruption) halfway if it is proved he
(Soeharto) is involved," Seda said as quoted by Antara.
Coordinating Minister for Development Supervision and State
Administrative Reforms Hartarto unveiled on Tuesday more than
3,000 cases of corruption involving Rp 7.21 trillion (US$1.07
billion) in state funds.
He said only Rp 76.32 billion could be recovered.
Seda said the government should not be satisfied by the
announcement, but begin a movement to remove corrupt officials
from the bureaucracy.
He called on the public to maintain a positive attitude and
believe that the government was serious in coping with
corruption, collusion and nepotism.
Other speakers were former central bank governor Arifin
Siregar and economists Rizal Ramli and Hartoyo Wignyowiyoto.
Hartoyo said he was skeptical about the capability of the new
administration to continue the efforts to establish a clean
government and fight corruption.
"You see the current parties are fighting each other for a
share of power. They have yet to establish a systematic program
(to combat corruption)."
He doubted that corruption could be eradicated in five years
time due to its complicated nature.
There is hope for a successful antigraft campaign, he said,
thanks to the growing transparency in the government, legislative
bodies and other institutions. He added that freedom of the press
played a key role in developing the transparency.
Rizal said corruption in the country was the legacy of seven
past generations.
"Corruption could be curbed if the government revamps the
bureaucracy... through, among other things, improving its
functions, remuneration and professionalism."
He said that if the new government took the antigraft drive
seriously, Indonesia would equal the achievements of Malaysia in
five years and Singapore in 10 years.
In Padang, West Sumatra, Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW)
coordinator Teten Masduki said the organization would unveil
results of its investigation into alleged corruption in the
General Elections Commission (KPU) on July 15, when the
commission is scheduled to announce poll results.
He said the date was set in order not to disrupt the KPU's
ongoing work.
"We have a responsibility to announce our findings to the
public because we serve them," Teten said on the sidelines of a
seminar on corruption in the West Sumatra capital on Wednesday.
He said ICW named a team of five to investigate alleged
corruption in the KPU. The probe came in response to public
demands made through the media.
Some KPU members have admitted to receiving payments from
companies which won contracts to supply paper, ink and other
materials for the elections. (28/amd)