The misuse of safety net money

The misuse of safety net money

Suspicions have long existed that part of the social safety net money is being used by certain political parties for their own benefit. Efforts to act on those suspicions, however, have always stranded on the legal argument that one must never make assertions unless accompanied by proof. Irregularities are detected by the public's common sense, but the authorities who must do the investigations wait for proof.

Certain political parties have been displaying campaign behavior that strongly indicates the presence of 'money politics'. However, on the argument that their cadres are wealthy, and that the parties have inherited funds that have been piled up for years, those parties have managed to make such suspicions seem doubtful.

(Minister of Finance) Budiono's admission (that such abuse exists) has also given rise to another suspicion: that the abuse of money was in all probability perpetrated by a political party or parties with networks of command in the bureaucracy. Corruption in this country has its roots in our centralized state powers and a lack of transparency. Money and power are concentrated in one hand while supervision is ineffective.

-- Media Indonesia, Jakarta