Microsoft Case to be Scrutinized
Thursday, 21 December, 2006 | 17:22 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: The Business Competition Oversight Commission (KPPU) will scrutinize the government's decision to direct appoint Microsoft to supply computer software in all government offices.

The decision was included in an MoU between the government. represented by Information and Communication Minister Sofyan Djalil, and PT Microsoft Indonesia.

The MoU was signed by Sofyan Djalil and Chris Atkinson from Microsoft on November 26, 2006.

Moch. Iqbal, KPPU Chairman, said although there had not been any report, his institution could take the initiative to investigate the issue.

“But this will actually take a long time because KPPU has not yet acquired the data and information that is needed,” Iqbal told Tempo in Jakarta, yesterday (20/12).

According to him, a direct appointment can only be justified for procurement of goods and services that use high technology, if the goods are difficult to obtain in the market and the time required to obtain them is very short.

“That means, direct appointment can only be done if involuntarily,” he said.

Based on Tempo's calculations, if the government buys all the software applications, the funds required will be around Rp377.6 billion.

EKO NOPIANSYAH | GRACE S GANDHI