The bad habits of the Suharto era are hard to kill. In the so-called reform era, the use of public money in less than transparent ways remains rampant. Claims of embezzlement from state commodities regulator Bulog helped bring down President Abdurrahman Wahid. Similar allegations now haunt House of Representatives (DPR) speaker Akbar Tandjung. Now it is President Megawati Soekarnoputris turn to face the music.

This row involves the so-called presi