Officials' wealth

The following is just a foolish calculation without heeding the inflation factors, the rupiah's present or future values etc.

Suppose that from 1970 to 2000 a civil servant, military officer or policeman had an average salary of Rp 20 million per month. This means that up until the year 2000 he earned 30 x 12 x Rp 20 million, which equals Rp 7.2 billion.

For his daily family needs, such as food, transportation, education, health, recreation, taxes, charity etc. he might spend 50 percent of his gross salary. As such, in the year 2000 that person would still have had assets in the form of movables or immovables, gold, savings, etc., worth Rp 3.6 billion.

If, as announced by the Public Servants' Wealth Audit Commission (KPKPN), a civil servant, military officer or policeman had assets worth more than Rp 3.6 billion in the year 2000, we reserve the right to raise a question: How did he obtain his surplus of assets? From legacy, gambling, a side business or family business? I desperately want to know the answer, or maybe somebody could enlighten me on this matter.

AMIR KARAMOY

Jakarta