All the presidential candidates have submitted their wealth reports to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) but whether the official audits stand up to scrutiny, we'll have to wait and see.So, apart from a few snippets and outline figures I've gleaned from various sources, there are a number of details, such as how the declared wealth is derived, I am curious about.
For example, as Rob Baiton asks, how come Gen.(ret) Wiranto has amassed Rp.46.215 billion*. On his army salary and pension?
But he's not the richest by any means.
That 'honour' goes to Lieut-General (retired with an 'honourable' discharge) Prabowo Subianto who has declared Rp.1.7 trillion including Rp.28 billion in cash, ($205 million), which isn't bad for a business career of just eleven years. Defender of the poor he may be, but not at home. According to an official from his Gerindra Party, he owns 27 companies worldwide including plantations and mines in Indonesia, as well as businesses in Argentina and France and about 90 horses worth $6500 each, some at his estate in Bogor, West Java.
"About" 90 horses? Doesn't he know or can't he count? And they're only worth $6500 each? Presumably they're not intended for racing but are used to pull a dokar, a means of transport still used to carry ibu back home from market.
Second on the list is current VP Jusuf Kalla, but his wealth of Rp.253.912 billion and $14,928 is not unexpected. He's long been a noted businessman, generally using Makaassar in Sulawesi as the base of his family's operations.
Pak Jusuf is a scion of one of the republic’s wealthiest families - they are Toyota distributors to Eastern Inponesia. This is further reinforced by the business (in the form of the Bosowa Corporation) and political interests of his brother-in-law Aksa Mahmud.
The two names - Bosowa Corporation and Hadji Kalla - are emblazoned across Makassar with toll-ways, hotels, and office blocks.
Children and folk who have been told to be wary of the bogeyman may like to know that the word is a corruption of Bugis, the ethnic group from South Sulawesi, who were once feared as pirates who were the scourge of of the English, Dutch and other seekers of the fabled Spice Islands, the Mollucas. To some, particularly certain executive members of the Golkar group who thought they could have been, should have been, candidates in the July 8th Presidential election, Jusuf Kalla is living up to his roots as a bogeyman.
Third richest is Megawati Sukarnoputri, who's teamed up with Prabowo, reputedly for his wealth. She's declared Rp.86,265 billion, presumably including the house she has recently been given by the state as she's an ex-, but hopefully not future, president. However, the resources of her husband, Taufik Kiewmas are not (yet) included. These will include a network of petrol stations, many built on 'green' land, granted originally in the 70's by Jakarta Governor Ali Sadikin to bail Sukarno's daughter out of perceived poverty following her father's death.
So that leaves SBY and his vice-presidential pick, Bordiono.
On July 2, 2007, Yudhoyono reported the value of his assets at Rp 7.14 billion (US$680,380) and $44,887. Apparently this has now risen by 20%. He has said that he doesn't what members of his next government to be involved in business affairs, which does make me wonder what his presidential salary is.
Boediono is the poorest of the lot with a mere Rp.1.866 billion** and $10,000. Given that he's recently been Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy followed by a stint as the Governor of Bank Indonesia, one may have expected him to have amassed much greater sums. Perhaps he is the 'modest' man he is reputed to be.
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Jakartass has Rp.417,470 in cash and whatever 'Er Indoors has squirreled away. Anything else is subject to current banking secrecy laws.
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*One billion rupiah is c.$100,000, give or take a few thousand.
** Whoops, I had a misplaced point - now corrected. Subsequent appearances show him to be the 'modest' man that he has generally been painted as. Why, he even eats fried bananas without using a napkin!
