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)