SBY Wants Transparency on Manpower Ministry Graft Scandal

Jakarta Globe, Camelia Pasandaran, September 07, 2011

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President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has ordered Manpower and Transmigration Minister Muhaiman Iskandar to be open and honest about the graft allegations dogging his ministry.

“Muhaimin [on Tuesday] met the president after the cabinet meeting and Muhaimin has been requested to be proactive in explaining to the public and law enforcement what is really going on,” presidential spokesman Julian Pasha said at the State Palace on Wednesday.

Dharnawati, a businesswoman who was arrested recently by the Corruption Eradication Commission, is alleged to have given Rp 1.5 billion ($175,000) in cash to two senior officials from the Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration. Her lawyer said the payment had been intended for the officials and as kickbacks to legislators and Idul Fitri payouts.

Dharnawati and the two officials — Nyoman Suisanaya, secretary general for the development of transmigration, and Dadong Irbarelawan, head of the planning and evaluation department — were arrested in separate locations by the KPK shortly after the businesswoman gave the officials the money stashed inside a fruit crate.

KPK spokesman Johan Budi said the antigraft commission believed the money was related to the disbursement of funds for the regional infrastructure development acceleration program in 19 areas this year. Dharnawati’s company, Alam Jaya Papua, had been awarded a contract for a development project in eastern Indonesia.

Julian said that Yudhoyono was reserving judgement of the ministry until more details came to light.

“If it is proven, [the ministry] should be responsible,” Julian said. “However, we cannot let baseless things turn into slander.”