RECENTLY Komisi Pemberantasan Korupsi (KPK) or Corruption Eradication Commission has been a headline in every Indonesian media. Some people are questioning their existence, others are trying to avoid its works, but many Indonesian people have a hope to the commission. Since 2003, they have solved many corruption cases and arrest many “big fish” from government institution.
However, the corruption in Indonesia is worse than we have known. It has systematic designed and involving many important person and positions in the country.
“Our duty since 2008 has become heavier than previous year. Many corruption cases are conducting with person who has power in this country, such as legislative member, high level of government position, and as well as the ex-government officer. In duty we have to go straight, we cannot to be a picky enforcer. “ Said M. Jasin, KPK Vice-Chairman.
Many tools have been used by KPK, both preventive tools and repressive tools. They used the tools very effectively in order to fight corruption in Indonesia. The preventive tools are used to create a new mindset about corruption and monitoring the governance. KPK utilize as wide as communication channel to educate people. It is important to set a new culture that gives zero tolerance to corruption. Just by doing so, the corruption practice will go away from this country.
“In preventive campaign or corruption awareness campaign, we are trying to create a new culture that gives zero-tolerance to corruption practices. In order to achieve the goal, we are using wide scale campaign to fight corruption. Such as anti corruption posters, Warung Kejujuran, or visiting formal education institution, as well as asking people to actively involved in anti-corruption movement by reporting the corruption practices to KPK.” Said M. Jasin.
In order to monitoring corruption practices, KPK uses several methods to shrink the field, especially to the government business. “KPK use several method to prevent corruption in government institution, especially when it comes to conduct the private sector. Such as, anti-corruption mapping, gratification clearance, and national assets clearance. “ M. Jasin added.
On the other hand, the repressive tools formed as law enforcement to corruption practices. KPK performance in law enforcement is getting shiny day by day. Since 2004 when they got the first achievements in cleaning the election commission from corruption, there are lot more corruption cases that been solved in the next years. Indeed, more surprises that appeared to the surface according to the law enforcement by KPK. The corruptor level rank is being higher, and made us realize how corruption has penetrated through flesh and blood.
If we compare to advanced countries, KPK performances is not at the best they can do. Hong Kong, for instance, the willing of government to eradicate corruption is not only in public sector, but also in private sector. Thus, Hong Kong commission is able to act more in both sectors. M. Jasin explained, Hong Kong have a positive law that control private sector business act, such as unfair trade, bribing, business ethic, etc. In contrast, KPK in Indonesia cannot touch the private sector, if they not conduct with public sector or listed in initial public offering.
Indonesian private sector is vulnerable to corruption practice, especially if they have a business with the government. Many evidence showed that most corruption cases conducting to that practice, such as bribing, illegal logging, gratification, irrational mark up pricing and tender. Although there is no law or strong rule in Indonesia to control private sector, KPK hope that private sector will put a respect to business ethics and fairness in competition.
“We can put banks and financial institution as an good example. The corruption tendencies are at minimum level in that industry. The other example, we can take a look to Telecommunication institutions, which have international standards good corporate governance, they do business with fair, respected the business ethic, and have wide business link” Said M. Jasin.
We cannot feel the KPK work instantly. As a comparison, we can take Hong Kong as an example. Hong Kong corruption eradication commission took about 20 years to take an impact. It is estimated that all KPK efforts will take an effect about 15 years. Along that time, we can only watch on television or other media how the corruptor is punished by the commission. However, dragging corruptors to the court is not KPK main goal. The goal is to eradicate corruption and built anti corruption culture in Indonesia. (Andreas Setiadi Sanusi)
Jakarta Globe, 29 June 2009
