Jakarta – The Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW) – a watchdog body that monitors abuses involving corruption, collusion, and nepotism (KKN) – commented that President Wahid has not yet significantly combatted corruption in Indonesia.

Its top official said in Bandung Saturday that the president, to date, has not punished any corrupter. "Due to the lack of measures taken against corrupters, Gus Dur has achieved a poor record which can be categorized as a red [failing] score," Teten Masduki, Coordinator of ICW, said. (A red score is a numerical grade used in school children's report book that indicates the pupil's lack of capability in a specific area of study.)

Teten, who was recently appointed as a member of the Ombudsman body, said that he was used to feeling embarrassed every time he went abroad as his counterparts often labeled the Indonesian bureaucracy as the most corrupt in the world. "It [their labeling] was true," he said. "We will be frustrated if we leave it to the current law enforcement, because corruption in Indonesia has become a political problem. Most of the law enforcement officials themselves are implicated in legal irregularities.

In further comments, Teten expressed a pessimistic attitude in regards to the latest bureaucratic efforts to eradicate KKN, and believes that such practices will likely continue, particularly in major areas such as Medan, North Sumatra, and Bali. "It has become a new trend among legislator [in these areas] to accept bribes, as was shown in the mayoral elections in Medan and Bali," he said.

Teten also blasted the government's decision to increase the salary of high ranking state officials in group I through V of state of up to 30% . "High salaries for high ranking state officials won't prevent them from committing corruption. It's the mental attitude that the government has to deal with. I'd say it won't be effective in changing their corrupt behavior," he remarked "The government has to increase the salaries of the low ranked civil servants, because they are the ones who are facing difficulties everyday," he added.