Nepotism rife in city-owned companies

JAKARTA (JP): The central government's pledge to fight the practice of nepotism seems to be ineffective as some officials of the city administration and the City Council have reportedly placed their children and close relatives in some city-owned companies.

Reliable sources said on Tuesday that some people were believed to have passed the selection of new employees of the companies in July this year because of their parents' influential power.

"They are accepted because their parents are high officials in the administration," said a source at city-owned developer PT Pembangunan Jaya Ancol (PJA), who requested anonymity.

The source said a son-in-law of deputy governor for development affairs Budihardjo Sukmadi Bagus Prayogo was accepted at PJA's planning division.

Budihardjo's foster son Catur was also accepted at the company's development division, the source said.

The source also said that City Council Chairman Edy Waluyo also placed his son Budi Waluyo in the company's public relations department.

The company's spokesman, Muhridjul Adly, admitted later on Tuesday that both Edy's son Budi Waluyo and Budhihardjo's son Catur work at the company.

But the spokesman did not give information on Budihardjo's son-in-law, who also reportedly works at the company.

PT Pembangunan Jaya Ancol, which manages the Ancol recreational park in North Jakarta, is known as "a milch cow" for administration officials.

The company financed several controversial trips made by city officials and councillors to South Africa, Japan and Australia, last year. The case is still being investigated by the prosecutor's office.

Meanwhile, another source said that City Council deputy speaker Djafar Badjeber and councillor Posman Siahaan of the Unity and Justice Party had also placed their daughters as employees at city-owned market operator PD Pasar Jaya.

"The two councillors' daughters work at the company's public relations department," the source said.

The source said many senior employees of PD Pasar Jaya were disappointed that they could not place their relatives in the company even though they had better skills than the councillors' daughters.

Posman, who is a member of the council's commission A for legal and administrative affairs, admitted that his daughter works at the company.

"But I was not involved in the selection process," he told reporters on Tuesday.

Djafar of the United Development Party also admitted that his daughter was accepted in the company but asked the media not to blow the matter up.

Similar to PT Pembangunan Jaya Ancol, PD Pasar Jaya is also known as a "milch cow" for certain councillors.

Some councillors had earlier requested the company give them shops at markets managed by PD Pasar Jaya, including newly renovated Glodok Plaza shopping center in West Jakarta and Kenari market on Jl. Kramat Raya, Central Jakarta.

Budihardjo Sukmadi and Edy Waluyo could not be reached for comment on Tuesday. (jun)