The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) shows evidence seized during a red-handed arrest operation (OTT) in a bribery case concerning the construction of the drinking water supply system in several regions, including Palu and Donggala disaster areas, Central Sulawesi, on Sunday (30/12/2018). Cash amounting to Rp 3.36 billion, S$23,100 and US$3,200 was confiscated in the operation. The KPK has also named eight people suspects.
Corruption in this country, in the past, happened because state officials were considered to have no shame. However, now it is worsening getting worse, there is no more empathy or ethics.
The absence of ethics and empathy, especially among state officials, was apparent when the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) named eight people suspects in a bribery care pertaining to the auction of water infrastructure projects in the Public Work and People’s Housing Ministry. The alleged corruption surrounds drinking water supply system procurement projects in Palu-Donggala disaster areas, Central Sulawesi (Kompas, 31/12/2018).
In fact, the tears of this nation have not dried, when more than 1,943 people were killed in Palu, Donggala, and the surrounding areas due to earthquakes, tsunamis and soil liquefaction. As reported by this daily, Nov. 14, 2018, no less than 2,765 people were reported missing. In 2018, disasters also took place in West Nusa Tenggara, Banten, West Java, Central Java, North Sumatra, North Sulawesi, Yogyakarta and West Sumatra.
If funds to build basic facilities for residents in Central Sulawesi are misused, the funds for disaster management, post-disaster development projects, or assistance for disaster victims, will also be stolen as well. Kompas data shows, for example, that assistance for earthquake victims in Liwa, Lampung, in 1994 had been misused. Since 2002, disaster relief funds and assistance for disaster victims in a number of areas have also been embezzled. A number of public officials in Papua, Central Java, West Java, North Sumatra, North Sulawesi, Aceh and Riau also have to deal with the courts to account for their actions.
That condition is like what is mentioned by Professor of Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University, Jakarta, Azyumardi Azra, as a loss of empathy and ethics among public officials. They are not only not ashamed of taking state money, which is intended to help people who fall victim to the disasters but do not have the heart to protect the people, who are supposed to be served. Clean water for disaster victims in Palu, Donggala, or other areas is a basic necessity. State administrators, state civil servants who must serve and protect citizens, have become thieves of state money. This disaster fund malfeasance occurs repeatedly.
The victims of the disaster may be the family or acquaintances of the public officials or entrepreneurs who are suspected of being involved in corruption. Where is their conscience? In fact, the Decree of the People\'s Consultative Assembly Number XI/MPR/1998 on State Organizers who are Clean and Free of Corruption, Collusion and Nepotism (KKN) asserts that legislative, executive or judicial officials must carry out their functions and duties well; responsible to the people, nation and state; and be honest, fair, open, trustworthy, and free from KKN.
If the people\'s message through the MPR is not heeded, law enforcers can use Law No. 31/1999 on the eradication of corruption. The law states, those who commit corruption when the country is in crisis, corruption related to natural disasters, and repeated corruption can be charged with the death penalty!
