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)