Yunus questions use of civil servants corps

Yunus questions use of civil servants corps

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Information Muhammad Yunus is
extending his critical voice from media rights to address the
issue of civil servants.

On Monday he said the compulsory organization for civil
servants, Korpri, "is of no use," Antara reported, and that no
one should be blamed if members agreed to dissolve the body.

Analysts and politicians have said Korpri's main function has
been for the purpose of Golkar's political machine. Its members,
which now reach some four million, along with their family
members, used to be a major source of votes for Golkar in
elections.

Well before the campaign season began, Korpri's chairman
Feisal Tamin said members were free to vote for any party, and a
rule was issued ensuring the neutrality of civil servants.

The minister, who is known for his advocacy for a free press,
made the remark regarding plans to disperse the Korpri unit at
his ministry.

Yunus denied a statement made by Feisal, in which the chairman
implied that any member supporting such plans would no longer be
a Korpri member.

"There's no link between Korpri and civil servants," Yunus
said. "It is the government which appoints civil servants."

Calls have also been made to disperse the official
organization of civil servants' wives, Dharma Wanita. The
organization was influential in the past at garnering votes for
Golkar. The organization has also drawn criticism for forcing
women to be active in the organization in order to bolster
evaluation of their husbands' work.(anr)