Jakarta – In a stinging rebuke of the bureaucracy, President Megawati Sukarnoputri yesterday described the administration as a "trash can" and told officials to go out and check reports instead of staying desk-bound.

"I have been leading a government which I think is like a 'trash can' because bureaucrats only want to receive good news," Mrs Megawati said at the opening of a meeting of the office of the state minister for administrative reforms here.

The behaviour of her bureaucrats was not very different from that of those under the past regime. "Disappointing or negative reports must be given more attention," she added.

She noted that, whenever she toured the country, the local government's protocol officials always made sure she visited places which were performing well. "What is the point in my visiting these places if I hear only good news?", she told the 900 government officials at the meeting, and urged them to become more pro-active. "I don't want bureaucrats to just sit behind their desks."