Corruption in all its forms, such as bribes, commissions and gratuities, are the main enemy of the nation.
In the latest case, Tubagus Iman Ariyadi, the mayor of Cilegon, Banten, was named a suspect by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). He is suspected of accepting a bribe from a businessman. Iman is the sixth head of a region that has been arrested by the KPK in 2017. The others are Batubara Regent OK Arya Zulkarnain, Bengkulu Governor Ridwan Mukti, Tegal Mayor Siti Masitha, Pamekasan Regent Achmad Syafii and Batu Mayor Eddy Rumpoko.
It raises the question: Why are government officials not afraid of accepting bribes and committing corrupt acts, even though the KPK has been aggressive in carrying out sting operations? That question has never been answered. In fact, according to Home Minister Tjahjo Kumolo, from October 2014 to Sept. 23, 2017, 37 heads/deputy heads of regions have been ensnared in legal troubles. Twenty-nine of these are being handled by the KPK.
The people that have been arrested by the KPK are from different professions (politicians, judges, lawyers, prosecutors, police, court clerks, ambassadors, ministers, inspectors general and village heads). They also come from different political parties. The corruption virus that carries the purpose of enriching oneself or one’s group and which is brought about by greed, has become the main enemy of the nation. It is necessary for all of components of the nation, including universities, humanists, clean politicians and mass organizations, work together to discover the answer as to why corruption, with all its derivations, continues to take place, even though the political climate has changed from an autocracy to a democracy. This nation must not make a mistake in identifying its main enemy.
Universities must consider moral sanctions if a graduate is found guilty of corruption or stealing state money. Such a measure could be considered and thought of as signaling a collective war against corruption. Leaders of political parties that are still committed to a clean Indonesia also need to think about the steps to be taken to dismiss party members that are involved in corruption, instead of protecting them. Humanists also need to think of cultural strategies, such as creating an Indonesian corruption museum to instill a culture of shame so that the younger generation does not engage in corruption.
Because corruption is still rife, law enforcement strategies must be reinforced with educational and cultural strategies to prevent corruption in Indonesia. The wish of a few people to freeze the KPK or even to weaken the KPK can be viewed as those that want to preserve corruption in Indonesia.
