The audit board's report

While presenting the State Audit Board's findings for the first half of the past budget year to House of Representatives chairman H. Wahono earlier this week, Audit Board chairman Prof. Dr. J.B. Sumarlin said he hoped the document could be of good use to legislators. According to Sumarlin, the document was important for the enhancement of the House's control function vis-a-vis the government, and also for optimizing the country's financial management.

Obviously this is not the first time that such a document has been presented by the State Audit Board (BPK) to the House of Representatives. But we have no idea about the manner in which House members -- either individually or in the House commissions or factions -- have followed up past BPK reports. Neither do we have enough information concerning the constraints that may be hampering our national legislature in its efforts to follow up those reports, which involve irregularities or inefficiencies in our country's financial management.

Could all of this be a result of the insufficient exercise of our legislator's and legislature's rights, as exemplified by the fact that the right of inquiry has so far never been used? Or could it be the overly restrictive internal House rules? Could our political culture and cadre system, or our political system of recruitment, cause House members to be reluctant to act?

The dynamics that are at play in our society demand with increasing urgency that certain problems be resolved without delay that social and political disturbances may be prevented from occurring.

-- Surabaya Post