Three ministers may go: Gus Dur
Three ministers may go: Gus Dur
SALT LAKE CITY, U.S. (Agencies): President Abdurrahman Wahid
said on Saturday he was considering replacements for three
members of his Cabinet who were allegedly involved in corruption,
collusion and nepotism.
"Corruption should be eradicated from the top down to the
lower echelons. Therefore, I am now quietly preparing
replacements for the three ministers," Abdurrahman told a meeting
with the Indonesian expatriate community here.
It was the second time during his U.S. visit that the
President commented on corruption allegations against several
Cabinet ministers. He was responding to a question from an
Indonesian student concerning the government's approach to
combating corruption, which is perceived to be pervasive and in
almost all sections of the bureaucracy.
During a dinner meeting with American businesspeople,
politicians and scholars in Washington, D.C., on Thursday,
Abdurrahman said he would summon three members of his Cabinet
upon his return to Jakarta because of new corruption allegations
against them.
The President declined to identify them.
Abdurrahman, who was visiting the Utah capital for eye
treatment, said he demanded high integrity and honesty when
deciding on members of the Cabinet because they were the primary
requirements in building a clean and respectable government.
The President said after the inauguration of his Cabinet late
last month that he was bent on heading a clean and competent
government to gain the people's trust and restore international
market confidence.
He warned then that he would prefer to have Cabinet members
resign than be suspected of abuses of power.
"Corruption within the government bureaucracy is possible
because of the authority held by officials to dispense licenses
or services. At the Ministry of Religious Affairs, for example,
graft usually occurs in the processing for the haj pilgrimage."
He attributed bureaucratic corruption to the officials' low
pay, saying malfeasance rarely occurred at private firms which
paid their employees well.
The President, who was accompanied by Indonesian Ambassador to
the U.S. Dorodjatun Kuntjorojakti, recounted an experience in
which someone offered him a proposal along with a promise of
monetary rewards.
"I asked for the proposal and immediately tore it into pieces
in front of him," Abdurrahman was quoted by Antara as saying.
He said the forceful approach was necessary to tackle
corruption.
"I have told my ministers they should relinquish their duties
once they are suspected of criminal acts. They should resign if
they are found guilty," he added.
Attorney General Marzuki Darusman confirmed on Sunday he was
asked by Abdurrahman to investigate corruption allegations
involving three ministers.
"I am still investigating the cases," Marzuki told Reuters,
but he declined to identify the ministers.
Marzuki said he was already investigating two ministers
because of allegations against them. He said the probe was not
linked to the politically charged Bank Bali scandal, which has
rocked the country's political establishment and is considered a
major factor in the failed bid for reelection of B.J. Habibie.
He said the investigation was ordered after reports in the
media about alleged corruption. He asked for the media's
continued assistance.
"President Abdurrahman ordered me to investigate these cases
because of reports in the press. He is trying his best to win the
confidence of the business community in particular so that it
will be comfortable enough to put its money back in Indonesia,"
Marzuki added. (vin)