'No excuse for legislators to escape audit'

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Public Servants' Wealth Audit Commission (KPKPN) deputy chief Abdullah Hehamahua said on Monday that many legislators had failed to submit their wealth forms to the agency due to "technical difficulties".

Hehamahua, however, said the excuse was not valid and legislators were expected to return their forms as mandated by law.

Speaking during a meeting with leaders of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) faction in the House of Representatives (DPR), Hehamahua said the agency was always ready to help state officials complete their forms.

KPKPN made public last week the names of 155 DPR and People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) legislators who had refused to declare their wealth. The agency also plans to take legal action if they fail to bow to the law by the end of this month.

PDI Perjuangan topped the list with 47 legislators, followed by Golkar with 25 and the Regional Representatives faction with 22.

One of the PDI Perjuangan legislators, Panda Nababan, told Hehamahua on Monday that he was confused by the 30-page form.

"I need more time to complete it. I don't even know how to value my property based on NJOP," he said, referring to the selling price set by the tax office.

Deputy MPR speaker Lt. Gen. Agus Widjojo said he had yet to report his wealth because of his tour of duty from the Indonesian Military (TNI) headquarters to the legislative body.

Agus was a former TNI chief of territorial affairs before his move to the MPR in November last year to replace Hari Sabarno who had been named as home minister. He said he would report his wealth, which amounted to Rp 1.9 billion (US$214,000), as soon as possible.

Chairman of the Golkar faction in the MPR, Fahmi Idris, said he did not submit the wealth form because he had "never been involved in any corruption, collusion, and nepotism practices."

Other legislators who run businesses, including Oesman Sapta who chairs the Regional Representatives faction in the MPR, said it would take a long time to appraise his assets. Others cited privacy reasons for their reluctance to return the wealth forms.

Hehamahua said all state officials were bound to declare their wealth as part of the nation-wide move to eradicate corruption, collusion and nepotism.

"If they refuse to fill the wealth form, don't accept their appointment as state officials," Hehamahua said on Monday.

He suggested that people alienate those coy legislators as part of their punishment.

"Don't come to reception parties organized by the legislators or don't invite them to your parties," Hehamahua said.

He said social sanctions were needed now that the KPKPN had no power to take punitive measures against offenders.