That title may not be entirely correct. But, that title has been chosen to describe public anger over the situation of the nation over the past few days. For the permissive ones, the title could of course be denied.
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Kompas/Dahlia Irawati
Malang Mayor Mochamad Anton (right) arrives summons at the Malang Police station in East Java on Thursday (22/3) to fulfill a summons from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). The KPK is investigating a corruption case that allegedly involves the municipality’s executive and legislative branches in relation to budgetary talks in 2015. The mayor and 18 city councilors have been named as suspects in the case.
That title may not be entirely correct. But, that title has been chosen to describe public anger over the situation of the nation over the past few days.
For the permissive ones, the title could of course be denied. Though the percentage of candidates named suspects of graft, gratification or bribery may be small, this fact shows that there’s something wrong in political recruitment. There is indication that people put less value on morality in this nation.
On Wednesday, March 21, 2018, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) named the Mayor of Malang for the 2013-2018 term, Mochamad Anton, and 18 Malang City councillors suspects. Anton is running for a second term in the regional election. The election in Malang City will see three candidates, two of which have been named suspects, Anton and Ya’qud Ananda Gudban. Meanwhile, 18 of 50 councillors at the Malang Legislative Council for 2014-2019 term have also been named suspects.
Previously, the KPK also announced other suspects, such as Kendari Mayor Kendari Adriatma Dwi Putra and Asrun, the gubernatorial candidate for Southeast Sulawesi. Asrun is Adriatma’s father. Adriatma replaced Asrun as the mayor of Kendari and after finishing his term, Asrun is running as a gubernatorial candidate in the province. Both of them were arrested by the KPK on Feb. 28, 2018.
There is also the story of Lampung gubernatorial candidate Mustafa, who is the non-active regent of Central Lampung. He was named a suspect by the KPK. After being questioned, as reported in this daily on Feb. 24, 2018, Mustafa said, “May what he dreams of, a prosperous Lampung, be realized. Thank you. Number four is cool,” he said.
There is another story on the naming of North Maluku Governor Ahmad Hidayat Mus, who was named a suspect along with his younger brother Zainul Mus. A political dynasty leads to corruption.
The condition disturbs our conscience. Will the regional elections in other regions be marred by other suspects? So far, some suspects have been named by the KPK but not detained. They still campaign normally. They have not withdrawn their candidacy. After being questioned by the KPK, the Lampung gubernatorial candidate went on to campaign.
A sense of shame and ethics as well as morality looks to be nonexistent in our elite. Political parties, based on prevailing law, cannot cancel the candidacy of the suspects. General Elections Commission (KPK) chairman Arief Budiman said, “I see the regulation is sufficient. This is a lesson. We must be careful in nominating a candidate.”
We should tell the suspects to read Tap MPR No VI/MPR/2001 on the Ethics of the Nation’s Life. On the part of governance ethics it says, “the elite must be honest, set example and be down to earth and be willing to resign from public position if proven to have conducted wrongdoing.” The law should provide an exit for those with suspect status to withdraw in order not to taint democracy.
