State officials reluctant to disclose wealth

State officials reluctant to disclose wealth

JAKARTA (JP): Many state officials have demonstrated their
unwillingness to disclose their wealth and assets as only 13
percent of the total forms distributed by the Public Servants'
Wealth Audit Commission (KPKPN) have been returned.

The head of KPKPN's judicial division Chairul Imam said on
Wednesday that a total of 24,999 forms have been distributed
since March. But only 3,126 forms have been returned.

"We gave the National Police headquarters 150 forms on March
23. But so far we have received less than 50 completed forms. The
National Police chief has not returned it, neither the newly
installed one nor the old chief," he told a media conference here
on Wednesday.

All the officials should have returned their wealth audit
forms one month after it was received by them.

The ironic thing, he said, is that very few officials at the
Attorney General's Office have returned the forms, while they are
supposed to be the on the vanguard in combating corruption.

"We distributed a total of 157 forms on April 19. But up until
now, over three months later, not even 20 forms have been
returned," Chairul said.

Former attorney general Marzuki Darusman has yet to declare
his wealth to the commission.

"Many failed to give any reason why they haven't submitted it.
There are also officials who said that they haven't got documents
to substantiate their wealth," Chairul said.

He said beginning next month, his office are going to start
verifying all the reports.

Among the officials whose wealth was declared on Wednesday was
Arifin Panigoro, chairman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle at the House of Representatives, whose assets are worth
Rp 245.4 billion and US$2,299,222. According to the report, he
has no debt.

Separately on Wednesday, Government Watch (Gowa) coordinator
Farid R. Faqih criticized the form submitted by KPKPN as
incomplete as it, for instance, does not state the period of time
the officials occupied their positions.

"The commission should also set a limitation on grants, as
grants and bribes sometimes cannot be differentiated," he told
The Jakarta Post over the phone.

KPKPN, he added, should also coordinate with the taxation
department and non-governmental organizations in the verification
of assets.

He also suspected that many officials were not honest in
filling out the forms.

The head of the commission, Yusuf Syakir stated in March that
according to Law No. 28/1999 on clean government, all state
officials should declare their wealth, otherwise administrative
sanctions could be taken against them.

The maximum administrative sanction is dismissal. But the
commission has limitations as no one could fire a legislator, he
said. (hdn)