Devi Asmarani, Jakarta – Two years ago, House of Representatives deputy speaker Muhaimin Iskandar could hardly pay for the room he was renting, his old friends say. Today, the National Awakening Party legislator is worth 1.8 billion rupiah (S$347,000) and owns luxury cars and properties, according to papers he filed with the Commission to Investigate State Officials' Wealth (KPKPN).

But even that pales in comparison to the more than 50 billion rupiah in assets owned by fellow MP Fuad Bawazier, a former director-general of tax and one-time finance minister. He said that more than 90 per cent of his assets were gifts, including imported cars and real estate – and he says that because they were not bribes he has broken no law. "I was only trying to be transparent. I can't believe I am now being scrutinised for my honesty," he told the Gatra news magazine when asked about the 45 billion rupiah he had received in gifts. Mr Muhaimin has said that most of his assets actually belong to his party.

Both cases are among several that have come to light after submissions filed with the commission, an independent body examining the worth of officials and legislators before and after they take office as part of the government's bid to fight corruption.

Some legislators and officials have taken to declaring assets under the category "hibah" – a grant or formal donation. The law bans officials from receiving bribes but makes no mention of receiving gifts – something of a tradition here when dealing with some officials or politicians.

But National Commission of Law chairman J.E. Sahetapy dismissed the argument: "It's all nonsense, a real hibah is made before a notary. It can be in the forms of wakaf, which in the Islamic law is a property donated for religious community."

[Irregularities worth US$363.6 million (S$636.5 million) were uncovered in the use of Indonesian state funds last year. The chairman of the state audit agency BPK, Mr Satrio Yudono, told parliament that his agency had found 1,643 cases of irregularities in the implementation of the state budget, regional budgets and budgets for state companies.]