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Jakarta Post

Govt unclear on holiday use of state facilities

Despite a recent recommendation issued by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) calling on state officials not to use official cars for Idul Fitri holiday trips, the government has yet to decide its stance on the issue

Haeril Halim (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Mon, July 6, 2015

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Govt unclear on holiday use of state facilities

D

espite a recent recommendation issued by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) calling on state officials not to use official cars for Idul Fitri holiday trips, the government has yet to decide its stance on the issue.

In fact, Vice President Jusuf Kalla and Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform Minister Yuddy Chrisnandi have issued contradictory statements on whether civil servants can use their official vehicles for the upcoming Idul Fitri exodus.

Kalla said government officials should be banned from using state facilities, including cars and motorcycles, for their holiday travel, emphasizing that official vehicles could only be used for activities related to their official duties. '€œOfficial vehicles can'€™t be used for holiday travel,'€ Kalla said.

Kalla issued the statement after the KPK warned government officials against using official vehicles for private trips as it could lead to corruption. '€œWe must not allow state facilities to be used for personal purposes by civil servants,'€ acting KPK commissioner Johan Budi said.

Johan also called on all government officials to comply with the KPK'€™s recommendation on the use of official vehicles during the holiday season to prevent wasteful spending.

In contrast, Yuddy, a politician from the Hanura Party, whose office oversees all civil servants across the country, recently gave the go-ahead for state officials to use official cars for holiday travel saying that such a practice had already been '€œpart of the culture'€ in the country.

'€œTechnically, official vehicles are only used for office-related activities, but in this Idul Fitri holiday season we allow some flexibility to civil servants so that they can enjoy time with their families in their hometowns during the long holiday,'€ Yuddy said.

Yuddy defended the move by saying that it only applied to public officials who were single and did not have their own personal vehicle.

Yuddy argued that the ministry encouraged state officials who already owned private cars not to use official vehicles.

'€œAlthough they are allowed to use official cars, all civil servants should take care of the official vehicles. Any damage to state facilities used during the holiday will be the responsibility of the officials,'€ Yuddy said.

To celebrate the upcoming Idul Fitri holiday, which falls on July 18, the government has decided to allow for an extended holiday for civil servants from July 16 to July 21.

Separately, KPK gratuity director Giri Suprapdiono called on civil servants on Sunday not to receive any gifts ahead of and after the Idul Fitri holiday, as any gift related to their jobs as civil servants would be
considered a gratuity.

Giving and receiving holiday gifts or bonuses during religious holidays, such as Idul Fitri and Christmas, is common practice among Indonesians. The KPK, however, has continuously campaigned against the practice.

Giri said the KPK had distributed letters warning civil servants against receiving holiday gifts. '€œIf they [public officials] ask for the gifts, they can be charged with extortion. If [they receive them] voluntarily [without asking] they can be charged with corruption,'€ Giri said.

'€œReceiving gifts could create conflicts of interest with regard to civil servants'€™ positions,'€ Giri said.

Since 2014, scores of ministries have set up internal gratuity prevention units in a move to educate their officials not to receive any gift from anyone following an agreement the government signed with the
KPK in 2013.

Giri hoped that officials working in the gratuity prevention units could step up efforts to monitor civil servants under their jurisdiction ahead of the Idul Fitri holiday to prevent them from receiving gifts.

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