Need for new agency on corruption downplayed
Need for new agency on corruption downplayed
JAKARTA (JP): Setting up an independent agency to fight
corruption here could do more harm than good, a legal expert said
here over the weekend.
Rector of Semarang's Diponegoro University and member of the
National Commission on Human Rights, Muladi, said: "Such an
agency would not solve the corruption problem here."
"It would only create new questions that could harm
Indonesia's image in the international forum," he was quoted by
Antara as saying Saturday.
Indonesia would be better off maximizing the efficiency of
existing government bodies thereby indirectly eradicating
corruption, he said.
Both corruption and poor service in government offices were
hot issues during the May election campaign period earlier this
year, and the dominant Golkar pledged as part of its campaign
platform that it would do everything it could to eradicate
corruption if it won.
"Corruption can be eradicated only when the government uses
strong political will," said Muladi.
State Minister of Administrative Reforms T.B. Silalahi is
expected to open today a three-day seminar on corruption in the
bureaucracy.
Silalahi earlier said the government would use criticism and
recommendations offered by speakers at the seminar to improve
civil servants' performances and achieve clean and efficient
government.
Speakers will include cabinet ministers, outspoken economists
Sjahrir and Dorojatun Kuntjoro-Jakti and senior journalist Ninok
Leksono.
Analysts are skeptical about government campaigns against
corruption saying that it is now an acute disease.
Economist Didik J. Rachbini said: "We have had an anti
corruption law since the 1970s. But it is no more than a
toothless tiger."
The Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) report to the House of
Representatives last month says financial losses amounting to
hundreds of billions of rupiah were caused by government
overspending, overpriced projects, unpaid taxes and bad loans at
state-owned banks during the 1995/1996 fiscal year.
The report says that ministries, state-owned companies and
state banks lost Rp 210.41 billion of state budget allocated
funds and local governments lost over Rp 38.24 billion.
It says few government offices are free from irregularities,
including the ministry of religious affairs.
"Financial losses and inefficiencies resulting in losses,
occurred at the ministries of agriculture, public works,
transmigration, health, home affairs, education and culture,
tourism, post and telecommunications, and religious affairs," it
said.
The World Bank in its latest report on Indonesia, issued last
month, said that improved governance would depend on widespread
local support and commitment at all levels in terms of leadership
and action.
Government officials were angered with a 1996 survey by the
Hong Kong-based Politics and Economy Risk Consultancy which said
Indonesia ranked third in its list of the 12 most corrupt Asian
Countries. China was first and Vietnam second.
Some officials said the conclusion was baseless. (06)