Systemic corruption
The Indonesian Transparency Society (MTI) has shocked us with its revelation that the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) has found irregularities involving Rp 820 billion (US$97.62 million) in Jakarta city institutions and enterprises. The fact that no action has been taken by the police is even more interesting than the sheer amount involved.
According to BPK, several irregularities, involving Rp 7.8 billion of the total Rp 820 billion, have occurred at the Population and Civil Registration Agency. Four city councillors are reportedly involved in the alleged swindle.
Surprisingly, one day after the BPK report was made public, head of the City Audit Agency Firman Hutajulu said that there had been only a few mistakes in procedure and administration in the procurement of computers, which had caused the loss to city funds.
"The investigation centered on why computers that had been purchased were not installed until the project's deadline had passed," Firman said.
That statement makes little sense -- or at least it makes people wonder what the real job of the audit agency is. Does it also deal with mistakes in procedure and administration that are prone to causing financial losses to the city administration? And how was it that a year-old case of alleged corruption was investigated by the agency only on Monday, May 12, 2003, some three months after the BPK findings? Or are there differences in understanding with regard to corruption between BPK and the City Audit Agency?
This leads us to the question of how the City Council could have accepted Governor Sutiyoso's accountability address for 2001 and 2002. What criteria did the council use to measure the governor's responsibility?
Jakarta's citizenry has been voicing deep concern about corruption. Unfortunately, corruption appears to be a matter of habit, culture and attitude, as well as of morality. In the process of its growth, the practice has sprouted a vast systemic network in Indonesia, making this country one of the most corrupt in the world. It involves law enforcers as well as other institutions and individuals that are supposed to uphold the law.
One activist expressed surprise on hearing that the Lampung police had arrested the province's governor-elect, M. Alzier Tabrani, for alleged malfeasance, while the authorities had not yet received a report of his alleged criminal acts.
Unfortunately, there has, so far, been no response to reports submitted to the city police and the City Prosecutor's Office about Sutiyoso's alleged involvement in "money politics" to assure his reelection earlier this year.
Another report on a scam allegedly carried out by Fauzi Bowo between 1992 and 1997, when he was chairman of the government- backed Civil Servants Corps in Jakarta, has also received no response from the city police and the City Prosecutor's Office. Fauzi Bowo is currently Jakarta deputy governor.
The Jakarta Police should be aware that corruption is a special crime that deserves investigation, even in the absence of reports or complaints being submitted. It would be unlawful and in violation of the principle of presumption of innocence to accuse the Jakarta law enforcers of being parties to the dirty game. However, Jakarta's citizens are tired of complaining about poor law enforcement and irregular practices that are seemingly carried out by law enforcement officers and agencies in this city.
Alleged corruption at the City Parking Agency, which has never been pursued, could be cited as an example. Appropriate action has never been taken to curb the alleged malfeasance and thereby increase the city's parking revenues, which have been unusually low from one year to the next.
The absence of legal moves is probably what has prompted City Hall officials at all levels to exploit every chance they have to enrich themselves. Most recently, an unofficial source alleged that yet another case of corruption, involving more than Rp 100 billion from street lighting projects, had occurred. A non- governmental organization is believed to be involved in the crime.
In conclusion, let us not forget that Jakarta, as the capital city of Indonesia, has, for a long time, been the nation's trendsetter. Therefore, the Jakarta city administration owes it to the country and the nation to set a good example by presenting itself as a model of good governance, with honest and effective law enforcement.
It is high time for the city police and the City Prosecutor's Office to be more responsive and proactive in dealing with reports on corruption. We do hope the City Council will be more critical and independent in examining and evaluating the governor's performance. Only in this way can it play a positive role toward erasing Indonesia's sadly tarnished image in the world and give a boost to the nation's efforts at establishing good governance.