The abnormal DPRD

The abnormal DPRD

Corruption and transparency are strongly related. The more transparent things are, the less the corruption. However, what is happening in this nation is the contrary. Despite the transparency, corruption is still on the rise.

Corruption is also related to autonomy. The greater the autonomy, the less the corruption. But again, in this nation, it is the contrary. The greater the autonomy, the more the corruption.

This is happening in some provincial legislative assemblies (DPRD), the institutions supposed to control the executive branch of government. Most of their members have to be questioned for committing crimes. Examples are legislators from West Sumatra and South Sumatra.

All of 54 members of the West Sumatra legislative assembly have allegedly involved in a corruption up to Rp 5.9 billion from the 2002 provincial budget (APBD).

Meanwhile 75 members of the South Sumatra legislative assembly stole Rp 7.5 billion from the APBD.

Now the question is, what kind of law will be used to punish House members if they also involve in corruption case?

All these questions should be taken into consideration in searching for an answer, as there is no assurance that the new set of legislators who will win in the 2004 election would be better. They could even be worse. -- Media Indonesia, Jakarta