December 27, 2016 edition

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) must not slacken its efforts to investigate the bribery scandal allegedly involving military personnel in the Maritime Security Agency. These senior officers, still on active service, should be tried in a joint court. It would be strange if they were tried in a military court, because the corruption damaged the interests of the public, not the military.
The suspected involvement of these officers was uncovered during a sting operation carried out by KPK investigators two weeks ago. In this operation, investigators seized Rp2 billion in cash believed to be a bribe from Melati Techinfo Indonesia, the winning company of a tender to supply satellite monitoring equipment worth Rp200 billion. This was only the down-payment to several officials in the non-ministerial body. The total bribe promised by the company was estimated to be 7.5 percent of the project value, or Rp15 billion.

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More Opinion articles in other editions

December 20, 2016 edition

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December 13, 2016 edition

The Pidie tragedy proves that we remain vulnerable to earthquakes, an ever-looming specter. A long-term public education is critical.

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November 29, 2016 edition

The sheer power of the plantation mafia is apparent from the conduct of hundreds of oil palm companies in Riau Province. At a time when the state is trying to increase revenues, hundreds of these companies avoid paying taxes on their income, on value added and on their land and buildings.
Ridiculously, this has continued for years because hundreds of companiesalmost a third of the oil palm plantations in Riaudo not have taxpayer ID numbers. The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has said this might well be costing the state up to Rp15 trillion per year.

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November 22, 2016 edition

Adulterated diesel has been sold in the open market. Pertamina needs to fix the downstream sector and overhaul the distribution network.

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November 15, 2016 edition

The Oil Palm Plantation Funds Management Agency (BPDPKS) has not violated any rule with regards to it use. Established as a public service agency, it has a free hand to use the funds as it deems necessary. But it is precisely this free hand that is raising questions, such as mis-targeted allocations which could undermine the very objective of the Fund's establishment.
The allocation of the Fund, a collection of levies on oil product exports and annual fees from oil palm plantation companies, has come under scrutiny. A major portion of the Fundsa whopping Rp3.26 trillion out of Rp9.7 trillioncollected from July 2015 to March 2016, had been dispensed to biofuel companies, not to render the oil palm plantation industry more sustainable.

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November 8, 2016 edition

The article banning the dissemination of Marxism-Leninism has passed scrutiny during the deliberations on the Criminal Code bill. This could lead to human rights violations.

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