spruiked: jakarta style

Claiming to have improved the performance of the Finance Ministry’s bureaucracy, the government plans similar reforms in 12 other state institutions next year,

Okay, that's a tad blasphemous, but then you've come to expect that from me, ya?

This is the best news I have read since Team 8's condemnation of the Police and AGO's assault on the KPK. The government will start reforming 12 government agencies in 2010.

There is no doubt that Sri Mulyani's reform of the Finance Ministry was spectacular -- despite the still blatant fiscal tax corruption going on at Soekarno-Hatta international airport. It's great to hear that they are not stopping there.

Real change is afoot my people, real change is afoot...

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear... Who is advising the Police right now -- Mak Erot?

Anggodo has filed a defamation claim against Kompas and Seputar Indonesia. It's hard to believe that this character has any reputation worth defaming, after the whole KPK-gate wiretapping incident, and his hysterically funny outburst on live TV.

But what's even funnier, is the Police are actually investigating his complaint. Hard to believe, I know. But it's true! Some people are dumber than they look!

KPK spokesman Johan Budi said the questioning date clashed with Kaban’s meeting with his Crescent Star Party (PBB). Kaban will be ready for questioning Monday, Johan added.

"Ibu" Kaban thumbed his nose at the KPK yesterday. You see, he had a schedule clash, so he couldn't make it to the KPK for questioning about "I Know Nothing!" disgraced (or is that "disgraceful") BI governor Miranda.

A schedule clash? It must have been important for him to ignore a summons. Was he meeting with the President? Was he helping rescue people in Sumatra from their flooded houses?

No, nothing so grand. He had a party meeting.

*Face-palm*

Just make all of them public if that’s the point, so there won’t be all this hullaballoo.

These are the words of Sri Mulyani, the Finance Minister, to the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK), who are turning into a Supreme Pain-in-the-Arse.

The Minister is talking about leaked minutes of a Bank of Indonesia meeting -- the last meeting before Bank of Indonesia decided to bail out Bank Century.

The minutes were given to the BPK by the Finance Ministry to help them with their audit. It seems that the BPK leaked the minutes. The main people attending the meeting were:

• MoF -- Minister of Finance, Sri Muliyani 
• BI -- the (Central) Bank of Indonesia, represented by Boediono (now Veep) 
• Bapepam -- the Capital Market Supervisory Agency

BI: We're thinking of bailing out Bank Century. We're worried that if the bank collapses, it will have a domino effect and other banks will collapse. It could be like the financial crisis in the UK and US.

Bapepam: What?! Bank Century is hardly Freddy Mac (a big American bank that was in the same situation). Sure it has some rich customers. But you have provided no evidence to support this "domino effect".

BI: Aha! If it's only a little bank, then why all the fuss? It's only Rp 971,000,000,000,000,000,000... oh hang on, how many zeros are there in a gazillion?

MoF: It doesn't matter. It will set a bad precedent. We should only bail out a banks if it is important for the economy -- not its rich customers.

Bapapam: That's right. What's more, it will cause panic. People will think the Indonesian banking system is in real trouble if we bail out a small bank.

BI: Hmm... I hear what you say, but I'm not convinced. This risk that you talk about is difficult to quantify. It is better that we act prudently.

MoF: Prudently? I'll give you prudent!

MoF stands up, slaps BI across the face and storms out of the meeting. Bapapam flips BI the bird and follows her out.

Okay, I made the last bit up, but it makes for much better sinetron don't you think?

I like Indonesian pop-rock. There's some great stuff, but what's really got me going right now is Cyndi Lauper. Not the 'Girls Just Wanna Have Fun' 1980s stuff, but the updated 2009 variety. Nice!