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