Most state bodies ignored info requests

JAKARTA: The Indonesian Forum for Budget Transparency (FITRA) says most public institutions it surveyed rejected the NGO’s legal requests for budget information.

FITRA said on Wednesday it filed information requests with 69 state institutions: 28 responded to requests and only 15 provided the information, as required by the 2008 Law on the Freedom of Information.

“Most completely ignored the requests. Others gave various excuses on why they wouldn’t want to give out budget information,” FITRA secretary-general M. Maulana said during a seminar announcing the findings.

Only five of 34 ministries FITRA contacted provided budget information: the State Secretariat, the Industry Ministry, the Agriculture Ministry, the Transportation Ministry and the Culture and Tourism Ministry.

The Corruption Eradication Commission was the only law enforcement institution and the Regional Representatives Council was the only legislative body to answer the queries, according to FITRA. — JP