Submission Of Official LHKPN Should Be Regulated Through PP Or Presidential Decree So That No One 'Pretends To Forget'

Illustration of wealth (Photo by Jingming Pan on Unsplash)

JAKARTA - Manager of the TII Research Department, Wawan Suyatmiko, believes that the regulations related to the reporting of assets that must be carried out by state officials should be further emphasized by Government Regulations or Presidential Regulations.

This was conveyed in response to a request by the Chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Firli Bahuri to make the legislators create a legal umbrella for imposing sanctions for recalcitrant officials who fail to submit the State Administrators Wealth Report (LHKPN). In fact, this report can be an early detection tool for corrupt behavior.

"The regulations regarding LHKPN should be held at the level of a Government Regulation or at least a Presidential Regulation which includes, among other things, the compliance, accuracy, and validity of a wealth report that must be reported regularly," said Wawan when contacted by VOI, Monday, November 15.

According to him, this rule is also important to contain sanctions not only administrative but also criminal, especially if it meets the elements of crime. So, Wawan said, officials who did not report their wealth could be subject to punishment.

"If every State Administrator does not comply with these rules, there will be legal consequences, which can be administrative or criminal, if they meet the elements of crime," he stressed.

Furthermore, Wawan agreed that the LHKPN submitted to the KPK could be an instrument for preventing corruption. However, its implementation must be carried out routinely, accurately, and validly.

"LHKPN is one of the corruption prevention instruments with the condition that every state administrator is diligent and routine in reporting, coupled with accurate and valid reporting. If it is only fulfilled from the element of compliance, then it cannot be interpreted as part of efforts to prevent corruption," said Wawan.

He also advised that while waiting for sanctions to be discussed, KPK leaders could set an example by diligently reporting their wealth. So, in the future, more and more officials will follow in their footsteps.

Previously, the KPK, Firli Bahuri, urged the government and the Indonesian House of Representatives to make strict rules and impose sanctions for officials who are late in submitting the State Administrators Wealth Report (LHKPN).

He said this could be done by revising Law No. 28/1999 on the Implementation of a Clean and Free State from Corruption, Collusion, and Nepotism.

"We urge the Indonesian House of Representatives and the government to draw up sanctions rules that can force state officials to comply with reporting wealth," said Firli in a written statement quoted on Friday, November 12.

According to him, this strict sanction needs to be given to officials who are often late or do not even report their assets. The administration of administrative sanctions, which are now contained in Law No. 28/1999, is considered not to be fierce and does not provide a deterrent effect.

"It's also time to present the rules of proof reversed for state officials," said Firli.

Moreover, strict rules for officials who do not report their wealth correctly and on time are considered important. Moreover, LHKPN is an effort by the community to monitor officials and the KPK's method of closing the loopholes for abusive practices in the country.

"Failure to report assets to public officials is a corrupt mentality that must be eradicated," said Firli.