"I think the report from BPK doesn`t reflect high-quality investigation."
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Minister of Finance, Agus Martowardojo, has expressed disappointment over the Supreme Audit Agency`s audit report on the Hambalang sports centre project.

"I was quite surprised by the audit results of the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) because I expected a better-quality report. I think the report from BPK doesn`t reflect high-quality investigation," he said here on Friday.

"I have not gone through the entire audit report, but it is clear that the results do not provide a satisfactory conclusion as proper investigative audit should," Agus added.

He noted that he was interviewed by BPK briefly when the agency was looking for additional data relating to the Hambalang project`s funds.

"When BPK came to interview me, we only spent 20 minutes because they had no more questions, and there was only one document (in which the Minister`s name was mentioned)," Agus explained.

"As far as major projects of ministries and other national institutions are concerned, the person most responsible for their proper implementation is the minister. Although some authority can be delegated to the secretary general, the ultimate responsibility lies with the minister," he stated.

"If we are leaders, we have to know our responsibility. Tasks can be delegated, but the responsibility remains ours," he said.

"I began serving as Finance Minister, on May 20, 2010, and I received a memorandum of multi-year contracts in connection with the Hambalang project, which were proposed by the Ministry of Youth and Sport, starting December 2010," the minister continued.

After receiving the proposal, Agus said, he asked the Youth and Sport Ministry to ensure that the proposal was in line with the Ministry of Finance Regulation (PMK) No.56/2010 on submission procedure for multi-year contract agreement.

"I reviewed the proposal from the Youth and Sport Ministry and rejected it. However, I asked them to complete it. And by that I meant they must do so by following the rules," he explained.

"Every ministry should know the rules it is public knowledge. I regret the way these things have developed," Agus said.

The Minister expressed hope that the Hambalang case would not spoil the reputation of any ministry or state institution before the case was solved.

"I hope there will be no action that could damage the reputation of ministries and state institutions until everything is clear and proven," Agus said.

According to the BPK audit, Youth and Sports Minister Andi Mallarangeng and Finance Minister Agus Martowardojo are responsible for the misuse of funds in connection with the construction of the national sports education centre in Hambalang, Bogor, West Java.

The audit found that Andi and Agus were "guilty by omission" for failing to follow the regulations on government projects.
(U.Y012/INE/KR-BSR/A014)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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