Ratu Atut Officially Fired as Banten Governor

Jakarta Globe, Jul 29, 2015

Graft convict Ratu Atut Chosiyah has officially been relieved from her post
as governor of Banten. (Antara Photo/Vitalis Yogi Trisna)

Jakarta. President Joko Widodo has issued a memo discharging graft convict Ratu Atut Chosiyah from her position as governor of Banten province, a minister said on Wednesday.

“I have received an official letter from the Supreme Court and then reported it to the president through the State Secretary – the presidential decision [Keppres] has already been issued,” said Home Affairs Minister Tjahjo Kumolo, as quoted by news portal Detik.com.

He added that the Banten Legistlative Council (DPRD) has also received the letter, which instructed the province’s acting governor Rano Karno to replace Atut.

Last September, the Jakarta Anti-Corruption Court sentenced Atut to four years imprisonment for bribing disgraced former Constitutional Court chief justice Akil Mochtar to sway the results of an election dispute in Lebak, Banten. This scandal also implicated her brother Tubagus Chaeri Wardana Chasan and lawyer Susi Tur Andayani – both of whom have been convicted and sentenced to five years in jail.

The bribe was meant to overturn the results of the Lebak district election and make Amir Hamzah, Atut’s chosen candidate, the winner.

Direct Elections ‘Bring Democracy Back’ to Indonesia

‘People’s Victory’ The House has ratified the emergency government regulation that restores direct elections of regional leaders

Jakarta Globe, Markus Junianto Sihaloho & Yustinus Paat,Jan 21, 2015

Ministers and other members of House Commission II after signing the perppu
 in to law. All parties in the House have committed their support to direct elections,
 though all but the Democratic Party have argued for some revision.  (Antara Photo/
Akbar Nugroho Gumay)

Jakarta. The House of Representatives on Tuesday ratified into law an emergency government regulation that restores direct elections of regional leaders in Indonesia.

The ratification quickly drew praise from analysts who said that Indonesia’s democracy was back on track.

“It’s a people’s victory,” said Arie Sudjito, a political expert from the Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta.

In September, the House agreed on a proposal put forward by Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s government to give local legislative councils the power to appoint district heads, mayors and governors, ending nearly a decade of direct elections.

The move sparked anger from people across the country, accusing the House and Yudhoyono of betraying the people, and claiming Indonesia’s democracy had returned to a system similar with that of Suharto’s totalitarian New Order regime.

Many also feared the opposition would dominate the regional leaders posts because they dominate most of the legislative councils, opening the possibility for them to block any policies by President Joko Widodo, who at that time was declared the president-elect by the General Elections Commission (KPU) after he defeated Prabowo Subianto in a tightly contested  national election.

After seeing the public anger, Yudhoyono backpedaled, saying that he never wanted indirect elections as his Democratic Party had proposed as a revision to the existing system of direct elections.

He quickly proposed an emergency government regulation, known as perppu, while declaring that indirect election law was scrapped.

“Now, the perppu has become a law. So we can begin direct elections in many regions across the nation,” Arie said.

But the KPU would not be able to make preparations for some 200 local elections, set to be held simultaneously this year, as nine of the 10 factions at the House demanded some changes in the newly passed law.

“Each faction has presented its views, which in general accepts the perppu to be ratified into law,” said Rambe Kamarul Zaman, chairman of the House Commission II, which oversees home affairs.

Rambe was referring to the government regulation in lieu of law passed by former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono during his last days in office.

The perppu annulled the 2014 regional elections law, which eliminated regional elections and instead provided authority for local legislatures to appoint governors, district heads and mayors.

However, Rambe said that most factions have urged for some changes to the new law.

“We will propose a bill, drafted by House Commission II, which will improve the new law pertaining to candidate eligibility, stages of elections and public hearings, among others,” the Golkar Party politician said.

The Democratic Party, chaired by the former president, was the only party that opposed any revision arguing the law is already perfect.

“We don’t want any more revisions. The regulation itself already contains enough substance on the direct regional election system and revisions from the previous law. It already includes suggestions to make the elections better,” Commission II member Saan Mustopa, a Democrat, said on Tuesday.

Moreover, making revisions will take time and Indonesia needs the new law immediately, Saan added, as more than 200 local elections are set to be held this year.

The process of preparing more changes will affect the preparations for local elections, he stressed.

“It will be difficult for the KPU to do its job,” the politician said.

Last year, parties from the opposition Red-White Coalition, including representatives of the National Mandate Party (PAN), the Golkar Party and the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra), voted in favor of abolishing regional elections.

But their stance changed after the Democratic Party announced that it would be  leaving the bloc.

All 10 factions at the House on Monday expressed their commitment to ratify the perppu. House Speaker Setya Novanto called on Commission II members to expedite the drafting of the new bill and conclude the ratification process before the House sitting period ends on Feb. 18.

“I have asked each faction to conclude the revision during this sitting period so they would not disrupt the simultaneous regional elections schedule,” said Setya, who is also a Golkar politician.

Meanwhile, Deputy Speaker Fadli Zon, of Gerindra, said the revision would not change the substance of the newly passed law. He added that the changes “are very technical.”

Home Affairs Minister Tjahjo Kumolo said the government was open to revisions and pledged to work with the House “intensively” on the planned revisions.

KPK to Step Up Regional Monitoring With New Branch Offices

Jakarta Globe, Dec 15, 2014

A visitor looks at an exhibition as part of an anti-corruption festival at Gadjah
 Mada University (UGM) earlier this month. (Antara Photo/Noveradika)

Jakarta. The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) plans to start opening branches across the archipelago next year in order to improve its supervision of regional governments, one of its leaders has announced.

Bambang Widjojanto, a deputy chairman at the KPK, said on Sunday evening that the anti-graft body was considering opening one branch office in Sumatra next year, as part of its plan to open at least five branch offices throughout Indonesia in the next ten years.

“We’ve decided to open a representative office in one of the provinces in Sumatra in 2015,” said Bambang, as cited by Tempo. “We’re still studying in which province we should build our office.”

Bambang said that the branch office would focus on preventing corruption in the local government. He also said that the KPK would recruit local people to help them fight against corruption at the regional level.

“We’re sure that there will be many agents of change. We need a renewed spirit in eradicating corruption,” he said.

The chairman of Commission III of the House of Representatives, Benny K. Harman, said he fully supported the KPK’s proposal.

“We’ll definitely support the KPK. It’s a good plan, and it needs to be implemented right away,” Benny said on Monday.

Chief justice: All provinces will have corruption courts by year end

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Thu, 02/17/2011

Corruption courts will be established in the capital cities of all 33 Indonesian provinces by the end of this year, Chief justice Harifin A Tumpa says.

Six judges specializing in corruption will be assigned to each province; two will work at the high court and four in its district court, Tumpa said in Bandalampung on Wednesday evening, as quoted by Antara.

The corruption courts would hold trial hearings and have their secretariats at existing district courts, he said.

Related Article:

RI to set up corruption courts in 33 provinces

17 governors are graft suspects

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Mon, 01/17/2011

Seventeen of 33 governors in the country have been named graft suspects, Minister of Home Affairs Gamawan Fauzi revealed Monday.

The last case involved the Bengkulu governor, who was allegedly involved in corruption of land and building taxes worth Rp 23 billion (US$2.4 million).

“I signed the letter [to lay him off] two days ago. Hopefully in two or three days the President will issue a letter to lay him off,” he said in a meeting with regional representatives in Jakarta.

He said that two governors, Ismeth Abdullah of Riau province and Syamsul Arifin of North Sumatra, were still facing legal processes due to corruption charges, kompas.com reported. 

“Today, 155 regional heads became suspects. But I think there will be more. Every week there is a new suspect. Three months in the office and they become suspects…,” he said.

Gamawan, a former West Sumatra governor, said to become a governor, one should spend a lot of money, between Rp 60 and 100 billion. However, the highest monthly salary of a governor, like the Jakarta governor, was only Rp 90 million, he added.   

President wants state budget funds spent in result-oriented ways

Antara News, Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has asked ministers and the heads of all government agencies and state institutions to develop a result-oriented mindset in the spending of state budget funds.

In his address at a function to hand 2011 Budget-funded Project Porposal Lists (DIPA 2011) to cabinet ministers, state institution chiefs and provincial governors at the State Palace here on Tuesday, the President asked that the budget be used in more innovative, creative, and proactive manner.

"Let us change our mindset on the use of State Budget funds from input-based to output- and outcome-based. Stop using budget funds in the `business as usual` way," the president said.

On the occasion the head of state asked state officials, ministers, and governors to observe efficiency on their service trips, meeting activities, operational as well as non-operational activities.

"Do not be wasteful. Conducting a meeting at a hotel outside Jakarta instead of at a government building while all participants are from Jakarta is wasteful," the president said.

The head of state also asked that activities which were funded with foreign loans should be conducted as efficiently as possible.

The 2011 State Budget consists of state revenues and grants amounting to Rp1,104.9 trillion, up 11.3 percent from the previous year`s budget.

The allocation of the State Budget is Rp1,229.6 trillion which represents an increase of 9.2 percent from the previous year`s budget while the budget deficit was projected to amount to Rp124.66 trillion, or 1.8 percent of gross domestic product.

House to summon West Sumatra governor

Antara News, Saturday, November 6, 2010 00:40 WIB

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The House of Representatives (DPR)`s Commission II on home affairs will summon West Sumatra Governor Irwan Prayitno for questioning about his absence during a natural disaster in his province.

"Commission II will propose the summoning of the West Sumatra governor and Home Affairs Minister Gamawan Fauzi," Budiman Sujatmikio, a House Commission II members, said here on Friday.

Budiman who spoke during a discussion on "politicizing natural disasters" said that the governor and the minister had made contradictory statements regarding the governor`s absence.

He said the governor had claimed he had traveled to Germany to make a comparative study with permission from the central government while the home minister had said Jakarta had never given Irwan such permission.

"The House needs to use its power to obtain a clarification from them because it is impossible for both of their statements to be true," he said.

West Sumatra Governor Irwan Prayitno left for Germany to be a speaker at an Indonesian Business Day held to promote investment, trade and tourism in the country.

The Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) in a press statement received by ANTARA on Wednesday said Irwan, a PKS cadre, had gone to Germany at the invitation of the Indonesian ambassador in Berlin.

West Sumatra was one of five provinces invited to the event. The other provinces were South Sumatra, East Java, West Nusa Tenggara and Papua.

The event in Muenchen was on Friday also attended by former president BJ Habibie, the Indonesian ministers of trade, industry and tourism as well as the head of the Capital Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM).

Related Article:

W Sumatra governor apologizes for trip to Germany

Mayors share ideas on good governance

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Fri, 10/29/2010 11:05 AM 

Anticorruption award-winning mayors shared ideas on key strategies to bring about good governance in their respective administrations throughout their ground-breaking tenure at the Bung Hatta Anticorruption Award 2010.

The awards were officially handed to Yogyakarta Mayor Herry Zudianto and Surakarta Mayor Joko Widodo on Thursday night in a ceremony attended by well-respected figures — including academics, activists and the media — concerned with corruption eradication.

The judges chose the two over 36 other candidates.

Herry, however, asked that his award to be bestowed to his administration, saying that the achievement would not have been possible without all the civil servants in his office.

“Good governance in Indonesia is like a rolling snowball: it can’t be stopped,” he said. “The paradigm shift can come from outside forces, or it can come from our willingness to change.”

Some of the novel systems that Herry has implemented in his administration include a one-stop licensing agency in which one office handles all administration procedures and the information and complaint service unit through which Yogyakarta residents voice their aspirations.

Herry added that he viewed leadership not as an avowal of social position, but as a sharing of responsibility with his colleagues.

“I consider myself more as the head of services in Yogyakarta rather than a mayor,” he said, adding that he nurtured his spirit of service during his previous profession as a batik entrepreneur.

Joko, who was a furniture entrepreneur before assuming office, said that he too implemented lessons learnt during his previous profession in his administration.

He stated that in his 21 years of dealing with foreign customers, he learnt the importance of quality, timeliness and finances, which he implemented by strengthening small-scale enterprises in Surakarta.

Joko is lauded for his success in the peaceful relocation of 5,817 street vendors and the establishment of 15 markets in his five years in office.

Clear-cut communication detailing the benefits of relocation overcame the vendors’ fears, he said.

“I apply the same method of communication with fellow politicians. I talk to them and provide them with detailed explanations of my concept,” he said.

Natalia Subagjo, one of the founders of the foundation giving out the award, which was established in 2003, said bureaucratic reforms were the focus of this year’s award.

“It was not easy to fund non-corrupt individuals in this country,” she said. “But it wasn’t impossible since there are still many individuals who hold onto their integrity and remain unaffected by the habits of those around them. Instead, they are the ones who influence their surroundings.” (gzl)

North Sumatra governor detained over graft case

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Fri, 10/22/2010

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Friday detained North Sumatra governor Syamsul Arifin in connection with corruption he allegedly committed during his tenure as Langkat regent from 2000 to 2007.

Syamsul Arifin (JP/Apriadi Gunawan)

The alleged graft is estimated to have inflicted Rp 102 billion in losses to the local administration.

After a seven-hour questioning, Syamsul said he was not too surprised by his detention.

“It is partly a risk a leader has to face,” Syamsul told reporters. He declined to comment further.

Syamsul’s attorney, Yoni Agustiono, said his client had conveyed objection to the arrest, citing his health reasons and his duty as the North Sumatra governor.

“However, the investigators rejected his request, saying the mechanism in the commission required them to do so,” Yoni said. (lnd)

Corruption Trail Revealed in Indonesian Government’s ‘Lost’ $1 Billion

Jakarta Globe, Dion Bisara | October 13, 2010

Jakarta. Despite the central government’s efforts to foster improved governance, the state lost about $1 billion last year due to misspent or misappropriated budget allocations, the Supreme Audit Agency reported on Tuesday.

Hadi Poernomo, chairman of the agency, known as the BPK, told a plenary session of the House of Representatives that it had uncovered losses of Rp 9.55 trillion in the financial reports of ministries, state agencies, local governments and state-owned enterprises during the 2009 fiscal year.

Hadi said the results offered clear indications of widespread corruption, and demonstrated the weak internal supervision of government spending and non-compliance with regulations.

Most of the lost money — Rp 4.98 trillion — was channeled through central government ministries and state agencies, and only Rp 40 billion has been returned.

The BPK had for five consecutive years issued a disclaimer on government financial reports, meaning too much data was unclear or missing.

The 2009 reports, in which the $1 billion in losses was discovered, were the first to have all data considered valid.

In citing examples of malfeasance, Hadi pointed to Public Works Ministry, which he said had overpaid contracted consultants by Rp 4.46 billion.

In addition, the price of a Finance Ministry tax office building in Kotamabagu, North Sulawesi, had been marked up by Rp 2.98 billion.

“We also found a false travel expense document in the Home Affairs Ministry that potentially cost the state Rp 1.57 billion,” he said.

Hadi said budget losses in regional and local governments totaled Rp 3.55 trillion, of which only Rp 38.22 billion had been returned.

Some of the unauthorized spending included Rp 6.92 billion on personnel at the Manado municipal government and a Rp 5.24 billion markup in the procurement of health care equipment for the Banten provincial government.

Arif Nur Alam, coordinator of the Indonesia Budget Center, said the BPK report should be a wake-up call for the government to take stronger measures in budget planning and spending.

“President Yudhoyono should use this report to evaluate the ministries, make sure that they use the budget for people’s welfare,” he said.

Arif pointed to the Home Affairs Ministry’s travel budget as a common example of graft.

“The report only strengthens people’s perception that official travel, whatever they tag it, does not serve the needs of the people at all. Their travel is only for their own interests,” he said.

Harry Azhar Azis, deputy chairman of House Commission XI, which oversees financial affairs, said the government should follow up on the BPK report and try to recover as much of the lost money as possible.

“The BPK in the future should not only report the losses, but how much can be recovered as well.”

Harry noted that while some of the losses were certainly due to corruption, others might be a result of simple incompetence.

Related Articles:

BPK Investigating Tax Office in Upcoming Audit

Sjahril Djohan Guilty of Graft, but Jailed for Just 18 Months

Mayors win antigraft award

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Tue, 10/05/2010 9:54 AM

The Yogyakarta municipal administration under Mayor Herry Zudianto and Surakarta Mayor Joko Widodo has won the 2010 Bung Hatta Anti-Corruption Award, the panel of judges announced Monday.

The two winners beat 36 other candidates in the selection rounds that took about six weeks.

Zoemrotin K. Susilo, on the judges’ panel, said that both Joko and Herry had succeeded in building transparent systems in their regional administrations.

“They tried to establish transparent budgeting and one-stop public service centers, which have resulted in efficiency,” Zoemrotin said.

One of Herry’s efforts, she said, was to issue a mayoral decree stipulating that the municipal administration would provide schools with an additional budget allocation to eradicate “illegal fees” imposed on students.

“Previously the municipal administration received a lot of reports about the illegal fees. With the issuance of the decree, he tried to respond to the problem and overcome corruption,” she added.

The other winner, Joko, succeeded in handling street vendors in a humane way, Zoemrotin said.

“The municipal administration always communicated with the street vendors instead of just evicting them as is commonly seen in other cities. Joko made a good approach by moving the vendors into strategic business locations and they only had to pay daily retribution fees,” Zoemrotin said.

“Doing this, he has shown that it is not low-income people who should be treated as enemies, but poverty itself,” she added.

According to Zoemrotin, the judges evaluated the nominees based on their credibility, commitment to corruption eradication, and their new systems, along with the impacts. “For example, the reform that Herry initiated has changed the people’s perception of corruption in Yogyakarta. We can also see his breakthroughs in the regulations and their impacts,” she said.

The Bung Hatta Anti-Corruption Award Foundation was established in 2003. It first granted the award to the late Moh. Yamin, Syamsul Qomar, Erry Riyana Hardjapamekas and Karaniya Dharmasaputra in 2003. In the following year, it honored Gamawan Fauzi and Saldi Isra.

After an absence of three years, the foundation issued the award again in 2008 with a focus on law and finance. The award went to former finance minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, former Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) deputy leader Amien Sunaryadi, and Judicial Commission chairman M. Busyro Muqoddas.

Natalia Soebagjo, the chairwoman of the foundation that grants the award, said that the 2010 award focused on bureaucratic reform and delivery of public services. “The goal of corruption eradication is to improve public services to the people,” Natalia added.

The judges, Betti Alisjahbana, Zoemrotin, Eko Prasojo and Rikard Bagun, selected the two from eight names who passed two selection rounds. (lnd)

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New law to empower KPK, PPATK in graft fight

Officials charged with stealing public funds, bribing auditors

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Wed, 09/29/2010 10:29 AM | National

The Corruption Court charged an ex-state company official with embezzlement, costing the state loss of Rp 42.32 billion (US$ 4.73 million) and a Bekasi municipal official with paying Rp 400 million to bribe the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK).

Prosecutors charged the former general manager of the Lampung branch of state electricity monopoly PT PLN, Budi Harsono, for alleged involvement in a graft case linked to the outsourcing of a consumer information system during his tenure from 2004 to 2008.

Bekasi municipal secretary Tjandra Utama Effendi was charged for allegedly bribing BPK auditors to get a clean report.

Prosecutor Pulung Rinandoro said Budi had breached the law for directly appointing a company, PT Altelindo Karyamandiri, rather than running a tender for the above project to run the system.

Prosecutors said Budi received a Rp 3.41 billion bribe from Altelindo commissioner Georgie Kumaat.

In a separate trial, prosecutors charged Tjandra and two other Bekasi officials, Herry Lukmantohari and Herry Suparjan, with offering Rp 400 million in bribes to BPK auditors Suharto and Enang Hernawan.

”The bribe was intended to influence the officials to unconditionally approve a 2009 financial report,” prosecutor Risma Ansyari said.

Prosecutors said that on May 21, Tjandra handed Rp 200 million to Suharto and Enang through Suparjan. Suharto and Enang each took Rp 50 million and gave the rest to the head of the agency, Gunawan Sidauruk.

In June, Tjandra borrowed money from the Bekasi branch of the National Sports Committee to pay a second installment and asked Lukmantohari and Suparjan to deliver another Rp 200 million to Suharto at his house in Bandung, Risma said. (lnd)

Former Home Affairs Minister Hari Sabarno has been named a suspect in the Rp 98.6 billion fire engine corruption scandal by the Corruption Eradication Commission. (Suara Pembaruan Photo)

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South Kalimantan governor named graft suspect

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Tue, 09/28/2010 8:30 PM

The Attorney General’s Office has declared South Kalimantan governor Rudy Arifin a suspect in a misappropriation of regional budget in 2002-2003 which caused Rp 6.4 billion (US$700,000) in state losses, when he was the Banjar regent.

Spokesman for the AGO Babul Khoir Harahap said on Tuesday Rudy was declared a graft suspect on Sept. 16 for ordering payment of compensation to PT Golden Martapura, a private paper company belonging to Gunawan Sutanto, for acquisition of a plot of land.

Babul told Antara news agency the payment was unnecessary as the company’s land use permit had already expired.

He said the AGO was waiting for presidential permit to question Rudy, in accordance with the law.

Incumbent governor Rudy and his running mate Rudy Resnawan, who were nominated by the Golkar Party and the United Development Party, won the election by landslide in July, beating among others the pair of Zairullah Azhar and Habib Aboe Bakar, who was nominated by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s Democratic Party, the Prosperous Justice Party and the National Awakening Party.

Earlier this year the AGO named East Kalimantan governor Awang Faroek Ishak a corruption suspect in connection with divestment of coal company PT Kaltim Prima Coal (KPC) in 2006, when he was the East Kutai regent. The prosecutors believe state losses resulting from the graft case reach Rp 576 billion.

Blitar Official Pampers Subordinates Despite KPK Ban

Jakarta Globe, Nivell Rayda | September 20, 2010

Jakarta. An antigraft group has lambasted a district head in East Java for spending Rp 2.4 billion ($278,000) on end-of-Ramadan gift packages for his subordinates.

The hampers are traditionally handed out during Idul Fitri, which marks the end of the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan, and can contain anything from food to clothes to books.

In August, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) issued orders barring all civil servants from accepting any Idul Fitri gift packages because it feared they could be used as a front for bribes.

On Monday, however, corruption watchdog Transparency International Indonesia reported that Blitar district head Herry Noegroho had spent billions on hampers that he handed out to his subordinates.

TII researcher Ilham Saenong said Herry might have misappropriated district funds to bankroll the stunt.

“As far as we know, the Blitar administration has never allocated funds for buying hampers,” he said at a press conference.

“It’s possible the money came from a contingency fund or from emergency social aid funds.”

The watchdog said it had learned about the purchase after residents complained and sent in pictures of the hampers, which featured a signed greeting card from Herry.

Ilham said Herry might have wanted to boost his re-election chances in the upcoming local election.

“Handing out gifts is one of the most common tactics used by public officials seeking re-election,” he said.

“There are also indications that the purchase of the hampers did not go through a tender.”

By law, government contracts valued at more than Rp 50 million must go through a public tender.

The controversy comes on the heels of a similar move by West Java Governor Ahmad Heryawan, who spent more than Rp 1.2 billion on 450,000 Idul Fitri greeting cards and stamps featuring his picture — also unveiled by TII.

“The governor should have spent his own money on the greeting cards instead of using taxpayer money,” TII researcher Putut Aryo Saputro said.

Meanwhile, Indonesia Corruption Watch, another antigraft watchdog, said such practices had been allowed to flourish because of the inaction of the Elections Supervisory Body, which monitors cases of campaign and electoral violations.

“In the run-up to regional elections, you always see the incumbent allocating a lot of money to social aid or other popular programs,” ICW researcher Ibrahim Fahmi Badoh said.

“This is underhanded campaigning and should be stopped. ”

On Monday, TII also said it had proof that civil servants had flouted a KPK order against using their official cars to travel to their hometowns for the holiday.

Ilham said the watchdog had received pictures from the public of Jakarta-registered cars with red license plates marking them out as belonging to state institutions, taken in several Central and East Java towns.

“One such car was even spotted in East Java a whole week after Idul Fitri,” Ilham said.

Related Article:

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Excesses of democracy must be corrected: SBY

Antara News, Monday, September 6, 2010 02:12 WIB

Bogor, W Java (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said that negative excesses in carrying out the democratic system must be corrected to preserve the country`s ideal reforms.

In his address during a fast-breaking dinner with leaders of political parties in coalition with the government at his Puri Cikeas residence, Bogor, West Java, on Monday evening, the president said that all sides must take part in correcting them if there were deviations from democracy.

"There are excesses in carrying out democracy, including in the implementation of regional head elections. We should not remain silent if there are excesses. We should improve it together," Yudhoyono said.

The head of state said that the Indonesian people had passed the first phase of their reforms that began since 1998. The democratic system had been established yet it did not mean that there were no longer shortcomings.

"In practice there are deviations in the implementation of decentralization. Let`s improve it. That should not mean that the authoritarian system should be revived because democracy, human rights and decentralization are our reforms agenda," he said.

He said that efforts to build consensus and national system were not the monopoly of political elite only but also of the public as well through discussions and discourses so that all parties would take part in the formation of the national system for the future of Indonesia.

"I am glad if political parties also think about it. We are all players and stakeholders. The government, the House of Representatives (DPR) and the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) may not monopolize anything. We should open access wide for the public," he said.

On the occasion, the president also expressed the need for consensus for Indonesia as a basis for its advancement such as the consensus owned by the United States and China.

KPK seizes N.Sumatra governor’s Jaguar

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Fri, 09/03/2010 8:40 AM

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) confiscated a luxury car it believed was purchased with money stolen by North Sumatra Governor Syamsul Arifin, whom it has named a suspect in a multi-billion rupiah graft case.

The light blue Jaguar was confiscated from Beby Ardiana, Syamsul’s daughter.

“We suspect that the car was purchased with money that Syamsul illegally earned,” KPK spokesman Priharsa Nugraha said.

Syamsul was accused of embezzling state money while he was regent of Langkat in North Sumatra from 2000 to 2007.

“Beby came to hand over the car at around 7 a.m.,” Priharsa said.

Beby, the operational director of PT Lembu Andalas, surrendered the car a day after she was questioned by the KPK as a witness in her father’s case.

The 2003 Jaguar was purchased for Rp 600 million in 2004. It will now be stored at the state-run Deposit and Confiscation House in Cipinang, East Jakarta.

The KPK named Syamsul, who is also a member of the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) representing North Sumatra, a suspect in the case in April this year.

The alleged graft was uncovered by the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) following its audit on the financial report of Langkat regency.

The report, released on March 16, 2009, pointed at alleged misappropriation of funds from the regency budget between 2000 and 2007, which resulted in Rp 102 billion in losses to the local administration.

The losses were caused by unaccounted funds spent on projects that were not included in the local administration’s budget. Among the large spending was Rp 21.5 billion that the regent claimed was allocated for the activities of some “working units”.

The Langkat administration reportedly collected money from companies, much of which was diverted for personal use by local officials.

Some groups filed reports with the KPK on June 13, 2009, and the KPK began investigations on July 14, 2009. So far, Syamsul has returned Rp 67 billion of the money to the state. However, the KPK is continuing its investigations on allegations that he violated the corruption law. (lnd)

Brebes regent suspended for graft

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Wed, 08/25/2010 10:47 PM

Home Minister Gamawan Fauzi has suspended Brebes regent Indra Kusuma, who is standing trial for a graft case.

Assistant to the Central Java regency’s secretary Muhammad Supriyono said the suspension order was issued on Aug. 7, but only took effect on Wednesday after the regional government received a ministerial decree regarding the policy.

Deputy Regent Agung Widiyantoro will take over from Indra as acting regent and will be named the definite regent if the Supreme Court convicts the non-active regent.

Supriyono said Indra would no longer be entitled to facilities he used to enjoy as the regent. “We will give him time to return the facilities,” Supriyono was quoted by Antara news agency.

Indra is being charged with marking up the price of a 2,000 square meter plot of land procured for a market construction project in 2003

West Java representatives reported to KPK for bribery

Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung | Sat, 08/14/2010 10:35 AM | The Archipelago

A parliamentary watchdog said it reported five West Java provincial legislative leaders to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) for allegedly accepting bribes from regency and mayoralty administrations.

West Java Parliament Watch chief Asep Hadian Permana said Friday that the officials were bribed to influence their decision on the amount of cash assistance administrations would receive from the 2009 and 2010 provincial budgets.

West Java Parliament Watch had obtained evidence to support the bribery allegations from documents detailing cash transfers to the West Java legislative leaders, he said.

The amount of the bribes was from 5 to 10 percent of the total cash value of assistance allocated by the provincial budget to each regency and mayoralty administration, he added.

Regencies and mayoralty administrations typically receive between Rp 15 billion (US$1.66 million) and Rp 30 billion from provincial budgets.

Asep said that Bekasi mayoralty and Bogor regency administration officials said that they were willing to testify in the case out of concern of being pressured by the West Java representatives.

“We reported the case to the KPK on Aug. 9 and were accompanied by the Indonesian Corruption Watch,” Asep told The Jakarta Post in Bandung, West Java, on Friday.

“Such illegal practices should not take place now, in the reform era,” he added.

The group also urged the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK), as the state’s official auditor, to be involved in investigating the allegations.

The BPK could help audit the bank accounts of the five West Java legislators, which include the council’s speaker, who is from the Democrat Party, and his four deputies, Asep said.

The deputies are from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, the Golkar Party, the Justice Prosperous Party and the United Development Party.

Asep said the legislative leaders had allegedly approached the regency and mayoralty administrations and promised to facilitate cash disbursements if the regional leaders paid them a fee.

“The bigger the fee, the bigger the amount of assistance [regional leaders] would get,” he said.

Asep said he had proof of a Rp 1.4 billion bribe paid by the Bogor regency administration, which eventually received Rp 15 billion from the provincial budget, adding that there was also proof that Subang regency officials paid Rp 3.4 billion to obtain Rp 30 billion in assistance.

“We have handed over all the evidence to the KPK, which immediately started to investigate the case.”

West Java legislative speaker Irfan Suryanagara said his council absolutely did not understand the

accusation because the report filed with KPK alleged bribery when all funds were accounted for.

“There’s no imbalanced in funds from the province. Don’t simply report [allegations to the KPK] and not have the guts to tell it to the media,” said Irfan.

The amount of assistance funds cannot be influenced because the percentages and amounts were set by law, he said.

“The rules are clear. If someone receives more than is allowed, the central government will know about it and it would be a problem,” said Irfan.

West Lombok officals named graft suspects

The Jakarta Post, Mataram | Sat, 08/14/2010 10:38 AM | The Archipelago

MATARAM, West Nusa Tenggara: The Mataram Prosecutor’s Office named the West Lombok regency secretary, identified as LS, and its treasurer, identified as AA, as suspects in the alleged misappropriation of Rp 38 billion (US$4.2 million) from the regency’s budget in 2008.

The pair was alleged to have abused their power to disburse social funds and channeled money to a several foundations and organizations, which were later discovered to be fictitious.

“We have named LS and AA as suspects in the case. The exact amount of state losses is still being assessed,” said Mataram Prosecutor’s Office head Ida Bagus Wiswantanu in Mataram on Friday.

In 2008, the West Lombok administration set aside Rp 38 billion in social funds to help social groups and foundations that had previously applied for assistance to the administration.

“Most of them turned out to be fictitious,” he said.

The case came to light when an NGO reported allegations of malfeasance to the prosecutor’s office early this year.

Despite naming them suspects, prosecutors said that they have yet to question the officials. Wiswantanu said they would be interrogated after Idul Fitri. — JP

An Overdue Warning on Misuse of Budgets

Jakarta Globe, August 05, 2010

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has issued the strongest warning to date against the increasing abuse of central and provincial budgets by regional politicians.

Regional governments can be important partners
in national development. But they need to accept
their responsibilities and fulfill the aspirations of
those who elected them.

Yesterday, the president gathered his ministers, governors and provincial legislative heads in Bogor in the third such event since he reassumed the presidency for a second term, and told them in no uncertain terms that he will not tolerate any misuse of national and regional budgets.

In his opening speech at the two-day meeting at the Bogor Palace, Yudhoyono warned that all budget usage would be evaluated by the government, mainly by the Presidential Working Unit for Supervision and Control (UKP4), and would be open for public scrutiny. Such transparency is long overdue and much needed.

The meeting focused on four topics — the macro economy, the state budget, regional budgets and budget acceleration. These are critical in accelerating economic growth and we applaud the president for displaying leadership on these issues.

Sadly, both the central and local legislators seem to have lost their way, using state funds for frivolous projects — often in the face of widespread public objection — instead of building infrastructure that will improve the lives of the people.

The state audit board recently found that most regional budgets have not been used to try to increase prosperity among the people, but rather to cater to the desires of officials for personal housing, offices and vehicles.

And the country has seen a steady stream of regional officials and legislators being dragged to justice, facing corruption charges linked to the misuse of budgets.

It is vitally important for the government at all levels to exercise fiscal discipline.

Understanding and the proper management of state budgets are important tools of economic growth and the enhancement of the quality of life across the country.

If used prudently and with maximum effect, state funds can drive growth and development across Indonesia, especially in rural and less-developed regions.

Such funds should be used to build roads, bridges, irrigation channels, schools, hospitals, ports, power plants and train stations.

They should be wisely used to fund projects that would benefit the people and help empower them, instead of being squandered on vanity projects.

Regional governments can be important partners in national development.

But they need to accept their responsibilities and fulfill the aspirations of those who elected them.

The president also asked his ministers and local administrations to react quickly to any abnormal hike in the price of essentials in the run-up to the Ramadan fasting month, a season traditionally marked by high consumption and skyrocketing prices.

One of the essences of good government is a synergy between the central government and regional administrations.

The two-day forum initiated by the president is an important start to this process.

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