Corruption Rampant after Regional Autonomy: Official

Sungailiat, Babe, (Antara) - A team of anti corruption units of the Attorney General office said corruption is in a rising trend in the regions after the implementation of the regional autonomy law. The greater authority given to regional administrations to carry out regional development has resulted in rampant corruption in the regions, head of the team Topik Gunawan said here on Wednesday. The autonomy law gave regional administrations greater authority to handle the management of financial income including regional income and fund from intergovernmental fiscal scheme, Gunawan said. "I see similar trend in almost all regions in Indonesia. Regional leaders behave like kingpins seeing themselves as powerful men with absolute power," he said. In line with the autonomy law the licensing authority has been taken over by regional administrations from the central government, he cited. He said corruption has to be dealt with integrally with criminal law instrument and preventive measures. "The key to success in eradicating corruption lies not in the number of cases brought to the court but more in one's willingness to exercise conscience not to commit corruption," he said. Bangka Regent Tarmizi Saat said there are civil servants refused to be named a treasurer of a project for fear of being involved in corruption cases. (*)