10 Years after Reformation: Still Many Corruptors at DPR and MA
Tuesday, 15 April, 2008 | 14:08 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: Some observers consider the ten-year reformation period as not having positive impact. The corruption is still occurring and the state bureaucracy is poor.

“Entire state instruments have been used for political interests,” said an expert on politics and te economy from Gadjah Mada University, Revrisond Baswir, in the discussion of 'the reflection of the reformation achievement' at the Millennium Hotel, Jakarta, yesterday.

According to Revrisond, the President and the House of Representatives (DPR) have been breaking the rules of the Constitution but have never been penalized. Reformation, he said, has failed to re-organize the state system. The public positions at governmental institutions have been used for political interest.

New policies came out since Soeharto like regional autonomy, direct election for regional leaders and President, and the establishment of Constitutional court and Regional Representatives Assembly (DPD).

In the field of the economy, he said, the reformation has failed in alleviating poverty. There is debt of Rp 1.4 trillion that has not been paid. “We still use the colonial economic system,” he said.

Legal reformation is also considered failed. Experts for the state judicial system, Denny Indrayana, said that it is often a member of the DPR involved in the bribery case. DPD does not work properly while it should be in balance. “DPR cut the DPD's authority, they have more power but are uncontrollable so it becomes corrupted,” he said.

He said most of the function at the DPR is full of corruption and bribery. Bribery is usually related to bargaining. “Just like what happened with Bintan Forest,” he said.

Meanwhile, Supreme Court Justice (MA), Denny said, has corruption and bribery case as well. The decision of the MA refusing the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) indicates the corruption and bribery in that institution. He is pessimistic that the salary increase of officials will solve the problem. “Corruption does not happen according to needs but according to greed,” he said.

Dwi Riyanto Agustiar