Two councillors have over Rp 1b in wealth
Two councillors have over Rp 1b in wealth
JAKARTA (JP): While most legislators and politicians at the
national level have submitted audit reports of their personal
wealth, city councillors have continued to drag their feet on the
issue raising question marks as to the motive behind their
reluctance.
Ganda Hutabarat, secretary of the wealth commission at the
City's Elections Committee (PPD), said the last time councillors
filed audits was two years ago.
Ganda revealed on Thursday that only two councillors, among 76
councillors who submitted a list of their assets two years ago,
possessed wealth exceeding Rp 1 billion (US$90,909).
He remarked that one councillor even claimed to have nothing
since he had just moved from North Sumatra.
"He said he had no home here, he had just graduated from law
school and was staying in someone else's home," Ganda said
He refused to mention the name of the councillor only saying
he was from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
Perjuangan) faction.
Ganda said the two wealthiest councillors with assets over Rp
1 billion were Posman Siahaan of the Unity and Justice Party and
Fathomi Azhari of Golkar Party.
"(But) Posman did not register his land in Kramat Tunggak
because ...you know," Ganda remarked, referring to the fact that
Kramat Tunggak, North Jakarta, is popularly known as a red-light
district.
"But he showed us his certificate."
Ganda said the remaining 73 councillors have assets of less
than Rp 1 billion. Some of them registered living in rented
houses and used loaned motorcycles.
But increasingly questions are being raised with many
observers pointing to the council's parking lot filled with
luxurious cars such as Mercedes Benz, BMW and Volvo sedans, all
of which were not seen two years ago.
"You can see for yourself after two years, their wealth has
increased incredibly," Ganda remarked.
Ganda believes that the "sharp increase" of wealth may be a
reason why councillors were reluctant to register their assets
with the State Officials' Wealth Audit Commission (KPKPN).
"They're probably afraid that the public will know how much
wealth they've collected over the past two years as councillors,"
Ganda, who was a member of the Indonesian Nationalist Party Massa
Marhaen, said.
But councillors Ali Imran Husein of the United Development
Party and Muhayar of the Justice Party denied on Thursday that
they were afraid to register their wealth.
"I have filled my wealth form and am ready to submit it. I
have no comment on my other friends, it's their own personal
matter," Ali said.
He reiterated that the Council was not rejecting KPKPN but
merely questioning the legal basis for the audit of councillors.
He argued that councillors were not mentioned in the list of
state officials to be audited in Law No. 28/1999.
The confusion persists given that a later Presidential Decree
No. 27/2000 on the audit commission does mention councillors as
among those that must register their wealth.
He said the councillors are scheduled to meet the KPKPN on
Tuesday, after an earlier meeting was postponed.
He said the council would decide whether or not to submit the
forms after their meeting on Tuesday.
Last month, the council rejected the KPKPN's audit saying that
they did not fall under the definition of state officials.
KPKPN's legislative committee chief Abdullah Hehamahua
expressed his concerns on the refusal of the councillors.
"From the entire country it's only been this council which has
refused," Abdullah said.(jun)