BPK’s Response to the Demand from Port Workers to Release the Results of Investigative Audit
The Audit Board of the Republic of Indonesia (BPK/Badan Pemeriksa Keuangan) is demanded to immediately publish the results of Pelindo II investigative audit that is being completed, i.e. the [contract] extension of Koja, Kalibaru, and the Global Bond. Such disclosure shall demonstrate how serious the state auditors are in helping to improve Pelindo II, the State-Owned Enterprise that is alleged to have been implicated in a number of potential mega-corruption cases.
"We appreciate BPK’s effort to perform investigative audit on the [contract] extension of JICT, which is alleged to be full of irregularities that are systematic and causing the state to suffer losses in the amount of IDR4 trillion. Yet we are convinced that there is a link between the [contract] extension of JICT and Koja and Kalibaru projects as well as Global Bond Pelindo II. We hope that this can all be uncovered by BPK," explained the Secretary General of the JICT Workers Union, Mokhamad Firmansyah, at BPK Office in Jakarta, Thursday (27/7).
JICT Workers Union together with other elements from the port workers who joined the Indonesian Port Workers Federation (FPPI) staged a rally to give support to BPK in uncovering cases concerning Pelindo II that is currently being audited by BPK.
The port workers extend the following views: first, they see that the [contract] extension of the Koja Container Terminal was made without proper valuation and that the price for the 2nd batch of extension (2015-2038) to Hutchison was set very low.
In 2000 the price of Koja reached USD 150 million, but in 2015 the price dropped to USD 50 million regardless of the fact that Koja is the second biggest terminal after JICT in Tanjung Priok.
The construction of the Kalibaru port costs tens of trillions of rupiah, but was delayed for almost two years with many irregularities in the construction, including its exclusive operation by PSA Singapura.
The port concept as proposed by Pelindo II is an implausible concept as Indonesia will never be able to compete with neighboring port of Singapore. In comparison, the port of Teluk Lamong in Surabaya was constructed with 50% less cost and the port was operated by Indonesian entity.
Furthermore, port workers believe that the most fatal policy is the withdrawal of global bonds by Pelindo II. The projects under the global bond were halted and 50% of the funds were idle for two years while at the same time Pelindo II is required to pay interest of Rp 1.2 trillion per year.
The workers believe that success indicators of the port include good corporate governance (GCG) and reliable port productivity.
"We have confidence in BPK’s professionalism. The results of the investigative audit on the [contract] extension of JICT and Koja, Kalibaru project, and the Global Bond would be a harsh evaluation for Pelindo II against the potentially corrupt and careless policies that might harm Indonesia in the future," Firman said.
Head of BPK Public Relations, Yudi Ramdan, said the Audit Board of the Republic of Indonesia will work professionally and in accordance with the laws in completing the investigative audit of Pelindo II.
"We will complete the investigative audit of the [contract] extension of Koja, Kalibaru, and Global Bond Pelindo II within 60-100 days," Yudi explained.
The previous day, the Head of the House of Representatives Special Committee on Pelindo II, Rieke Diah Pitaloka, came to BPK to follow up the investigative audit results of Koja, Kalibaru, and Global Bond Pelindo II.
The term of the Special Committee on Pelindo II is planned to be extended and officially endorsed in the plenary session of the House of Representatives on Thursday, 27 July 2017.
gatra.com (Kamis, 27/7/2017)