We follow KPK recommendations on eID project: Home Ministry claims

Amid allegations of fraud in the government’s national electronic identity card (e-ID) program, the Home Ministry claims that it has followed most recommendations required by the Commission Eradication Commission (KPK) in the procurement for the e-ID program.

"We've followed up five out six recommendations," Home Ministry spokesman Reydonnyzar Moenek on Wednesday as quoted by Antara news agency.

Those recommendations are including suggestion to perfect the grand design and application system for population information and administration (SIAK).

Reydonnyzar said only one recommendation left unaddressed, but he said,"we are working on it [the recommendation] simultaneously."

He also asserted that the ministry had invited relevant institutions, including KPK, Supreme Audit Agency (BPK), Development Finance Comptroller (BPKP) and the Institute for the Procurement of Government Goods and Services (LKPP) to assist in project monitoring.

On Monday, a consortium of firms have reported Home Minister Gamawan Fauzi to the Jakarta Police for allegedly abusing his authority when awarding contracts for the e-ID program.

An attorney for the companies, Handika Honggowongso, said the ministry’s tender committee accepted an appeal letter and a bank guarantee worth Rp 50 million from the firms, without disclosing that state printing company PNRI had already been awarded the contract.

Two of the companies, Uang Republik Indonesia (Peruri) and state telecommunication company PT Telkom had submitted appeals on July 5, according to Handika – six days after the tender committee signed a Rp 5.9 trillion contract with PNRI.

Handika accused the ministry of signing a contract without considering an appeal from the losing companies in violation of a presidential regulation on government procurement.

Gamawan said that he would follow the due process of the law and asked his accusers to present evidence of his alleged wrongdoings.