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)