Motorcycles and dishonesty

Motorcycles and dishonesty

From Suara Karya

Recent press reports have raised the issue of moge (local term for big motorcycles), i.e. Harley Davidsons used during the Non- Aligned Movement summit in 1992, which are valued at an estimated Rp 400 million per unit. Reports of the unlawful control of these motorcycles by Jakarta city officials obviously indicates corruption, collusion and nepotism. Thank God, this foul conduct finally became public knowledge by being leaked by those who failed to share the fortune. After the exposure, the culprits hastily returned their loot virtually in a state of scrap iron.

We are again faced with the behavior of Jakarta's corrupt (executive and legislative) officials, who only think of their own insatiable craving for a luxurious existence while ignoring decency as long as opportunity allows. It's still fresh in our minds how their worldly desires were reflected in other cases such as the allocation of Hyundai official cars, foreign tours for pleasure, allotment of land plots, government-funded study, fitness allowances and severance pay. In the meantime, none of the city's long-standing problems has been solved, like the parking confusion, hooliganism, messed up traffic conditions, etc.

To be fair, the Development Finance Comptroller (BPKP) should audit all the cars and moge imported for the SEA Games or the summit that were only to be later shared among the authorities themselves. One couldn't find any proof of open tenders of ex- summit cars like Range Rovers etc., which are now displayed in the garages of some officials.

The officials who have already returned the moge should be made to account for their actions. If necessary, they should be forced to make the motorcycles roadworthy again at their own expense. Otherwise, they should be dismissed. Besides, BPKP needs to promptly announce its audit results concerning the status of hundreds of luxury cars and moge so as to unveil the dishonest ones.

H. WISDARMANTO GS

Jakarta