Officials lack courage in punishing subordinates

Officials lack courage in punishing subordinates

JAKARTA (JP): The head of the Institute of State Personnel
Administration (BAKN), Soenarko, said yesterday that government
bureaucracy would remain weak as long as built-in supervision
systems failed to work effectively.

Soenarko lamented that superiors in government offices often
lacked courage in punishing subordinates and even pretended not
to recognize wrongdoings by their subordinates.

"The laws and regulations on supervision are more than enough,
but I doubt they have worked effectively," Soenarko said after
swearing in a new assistant at his office yesterday.

He noted that some senior staff fail to press for heavy
sanctions against corrupt subordinates.

State Minister of Administrative Reforms T.B. Silalahi said
recently that Indonesia's laws on corruption were likely the most
comprehensive in the world and that even a mouse could not escape
their trap.

BAKN administratively oversees 4,044,703 civil servants, and
is directly under the President's supervision. The committee is
in charge of the promotion and retirement of civil servants.

President Soeharto urged government bureaucrats on Monday to
be more sensitive toward people, and not treat them merely as
objects who should obey their commands.

Government bureaucracy is often marred by allegations of
widespread corruption and rampant red tape. These issues were
also addressed during May's general election.

Soenarko called on officials yesterday to be tough in
combating corruption, but at the same time be aware of their
staff's needs.

"Top government officials must be capable of managing their
staff, but they are also expected to improve their welfare,"
Antara quoted Soenarko as saying.

Separately, House of Representatives speaker Wahono called on
the government yesterday to be more responsive toward mounting
public demand for democracy and a cleaner government.

"Complaints over irregularities and negative impacts of
development are increasing," Wahono said after receiving 18
Indonesia ambassadors, who will go to overseas posts, at his
office. (prb)