Traces of History of Corruption Eradication

KOMPAS/WAWAN H PRABOWO

Members of the Corruption Eradication Commission Supervisory Board (Dewas KPK) read the oath of office as witnessed by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo at the State Palace in Jakarta in December (20/12/2019). President Jokowi decided to appoint (from left) Artidjo Alkostar, Harjono, Syamsuddin Haris, Tumpak Hatorangan Panggabean and Albertina Ho to become Dewas KPK members. The establishment of the Dewas KPK was mandated by Law No. 19/2019 concerning the Corruption Eradication Commission.

The saga in Reform Era fight against corruption continues. A new law has come into force, the supervisory council (of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has been formed and, now, a presidential regulation (Perpres) is being drafted.

We don\'t know how this saga will end. It would be a happy ending if acts of corruption are reduced, even gone altogether. Or conversely, it would end on a sad note if corruptors become more brave and are free to rake in the state wealth that should be enjoyed by all citizens of the country.

The last two chapters of the corruption eradication series are "KPK Not Involved in Discussing the Perpres KPK" (Kompas, Saturday 4/1/2020) and "Avoiding Potential Problems of the Perpres KPK" (Kompas, Sunday 5/1/2020).

This is about three presidential regulations (Perpres) related to the KPK being prepared: first, the Perpres regulating the organization and working procedures of KPK leaders; second, the Perpres governing the supervisory council; and third, the Perpres regulating KPK employees as state civil servants.

The draft presidential regulation circulating among anticorruption activists shows the KPK leaders are positioned at a ministerial level and answer to the President. The draft also mentions the position of inspector general within the KPK. If this draft is valid, it strengthens allegations that there is a structured and systematic effort to cripple the KPK.

KOMPAS/WAWAN H PRABOWO

President Joko Widodo has a friendly meeting with members of the Corruption Eradication Commission Supervisory Board (Dewas KPK) and the KPK leaders for the 2015-2019 period whom he had just installed at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta in December (20/12/2019).

Judging from history, efforts to eradicate corruption have often been met with rejections openly or quietly from groups of elites or bureaucracies who have enjoyed many benefits from old practices.

Therefore, we consider it is important to involve the KPK -- including experts outside the government – in drafting a presidential regulation to minimize conflicts of interest and the latent danger of corruption. The president as head of state and head of government also needs to oversee all processes so as not to divert or get turned around.

These last two chapters have made the end of the story difficult to predict. In fact, when the supervisory council was formed and a number of figures with integrity were chosen, the end of the saga seemed a bit more promising.

We hope that in the following chapters, the main characters will be more visible to the public and also that the protagonist supporting characters will emerge. Thus, there will be exciting scenes against the antagonists. We certainly hope that the main character is neither defeated nor gives up.

KOMPAS/WAWAN H PRABOWO

The leaders of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) for 2019-2023 period greet journalist before reading the oath of office as witnessed by President Joko Widodo at the State Palace in Jakarta in December (20/12/2019). The five KPK leaders selected by the government together with the House of Representatives (DPR) are (from left) Firli Bahuri, Nawawi Pomolango, Lili Pintauli Siregar, Nurul Ghufron and Alexander Marwata. In their oath of office, they promised to maintain their independence. They also promised to remain firm in carrying out the duties and authorities mandated by the law.

Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States, demonstrated his role in leading the country, including in opposing slavery.

"I walk slowly, but I never walk backward," so says his principle. Lincoln\'s footprint is now recorded with thick ink.

Corruption eradication in the Reform Era will leave its mark. The trail is increasingly archived in this digital era. It will be easy to tell who is the main actor, the supporting actor, the protagonist or the antagonist.