An official involved in the Katulampa drinking water supply system (SPAM) project in Bogor, West Java, Meina Woro Kustinah (right), walks to a detention car after questioning in the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) headquarters in Jakarta on Friday (25/1/2019). Meina was questioned as a suspect in relation to a bribery case relating to the construction of the SPAM project run by the Directorate General of Cipta Karya of the Public Works and Housing Ministry.
JAKARTA, KOMPAS -- Breakthroughs are urgently needed to fight corruption in regions across Indonesia. Political parties, as training grounds for potential leaders, have an important role in making such breakthroughs.
These breakthroughs are urgently needed as corruption persists in regions. Throughout 2018, 28 regional heads and 91 regional lawmakers faced the law. This year, Mesuji regent Khamami in Lampung became the first to be arrested by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).
This is ironic as many regional heads and lawmakers had signed integrity pacts to show their commitment to fighting corruption and establishing a transparent and accountable government. Several regions are working together with the KPK to strengthen their corruption eradication efforts.
KPK deputy chair Basaria Pandjaitan said in Jakarta on Friday (25/1/2019) that numerous preventive efforts had been launched. This includes strengthening the capacity of the government’s internal auditors, establishing an online procurement system of goods and services and supervision by the KPK’s coordination, supervision and prevention teams.
“We have done many things to prevent corruption. However, preventive efforts do not automatically eradicate corruption,” Basaria said.
She said that prosecution would be necessary to optimize preventive efforts. “Now, the KPK is committing to integrated preventive efforts and prosecution,” she said.
Similar conditions
Transparency International Indonesia (TII) secretary-general Dadang Trisasongko said Indonesia and India faced similar conditions. In India, bribery in processing population administration documents, driving licenses and obtaining healthcare and education is worse than in Indonesia.
However, India’s corruption perceptions index (CPI) is better than Indonesia’s. At a score of between 0 and 100 -- with larger score meaning cleaner from corruption --, India scored 36 while Indonesia scored 32 in 2012. In 2017, India scored 40 and Indonesia 37.
Dadang said that this was because India’s law enforcement was stronger than Indonesia’s.
Cleaning law enforcement from corruption was also how Hong Kong began its corruption eradication campaign. Nowadays, Hong Kong is seen as relatively clean from corruption. Hong Kong’s 2017 CPI was 77. “Hong Kong is a good example for Indonesia,” Dadang said.
Apart from strengthening law enforcement, political parties’ commitment is necessary in corruption eradication. Such commitment is especially needed in recruitment, building transparency and reducing the costs of politics.
Currently, political parties have been improving themselves. Democratic Party deputy secretary-general Renanda Bachtiar, for instance, said that the party had cooperated with the KPK in the past 2.5 years to build an anticorruption school. Through the school, Democratic Party members learn the dangers of corruption and forms of corruptive behaviors or actions.
Golkar Party executive Ace Hasan Syadzily said that the party had worked together with the KPK to increase its members’ corruption awareness.
However, Indonesia Corruption Watch’s Donal Fariz said that these efforts were not followed up with internal improvements within the parties. Consequently, corruption potentials persist.
Such internal repairs, Donal said, would be necessary in choosing regional head candidates the party would support. This should be done transparently to pick the best candidate. Political parties should also strive to achieve low costs of politics. (IAN/E08/NAD)
