Our Beloved Corruptors
Agus Noor
Today, a corruptor left the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) building in a relaxed and calm manner. To a group of waiting reporters, he delivered the following statement:
I am grateful to God because today, I have officially been named a corruptor. It is an honor for me because, in a way, being named a corruptor takes the courage to sacrifice a good name. Not everyone is brave enough to make such a sacrifice. Second, thank you for all the support, especially to fellow politicians at Senayan [legislative complex], who are so heroically fighting for the House of Representatives’ right of inquiry.
Many people consider corruptors as a common enemy who must be imprisoned. I think that is incorrect thinking. Because what will happen if all the corruptors are imprisoned? This country could become paralyzed because all officials and state apparatuses will be in jail. In fact, the penitentiaries will not be able to function properly because all of their guards will go to jail.
Therefore, the idea of imprisoning all corruptors is an idea that contradicts the spirit of the government to give the best service to its people. So, leave corruptors free to keep providing services to the people.
Trias corruptica
Many hate corruptors, even though I think this hatred is also wrong and not in its proper place. As a good and responsible corrupter, I will explain several things.
First, corruption is not a matter of chance, but a matter of course. In the end, all will engage in corruption. Hating corruptors will only drain the energy of this nation. It is better to start thinking about how we can best use our skills and knowledge in the field of corruption to the advantage of the nation so that it can compete at the global level.
Second, if a mistake is made by a corruptor, this must be seen as an individual mistake. Do not generalize that all corruptors are bad. There are still good corruptors, like me, at least. Remember, if a policeman makes mistake, it does not mean all police are wrong, right?
It is just an individual. It is the same with judges, House members, regents to village heads: if someone has made a mistake, it is only that person. A person, but uniformly. This "uniformity" has actually become the basic principle of corruption.
Therefore, third, it is wrong to assume that corruptors are selfish. They also pay attention to their political parties, colleagues, as well their cronies. That is why corruption takes place nearly everywhere and done as a congregation. Let us just see this as the spirit of mutual cooperation (gotong royong) applied to corruption.
How corruption occurs everywhere is also in accordance with the basic political principles we follow. In politics there is trias politica, an equal sharing of power between the executive, the legislative and the judiciary. Similarly in corruption, there is equitable sharing of profits between the executive, the legislative and the judiciary. This is called “trias corruptica”. This is the proof that corruptors are never selfish.
Corruption budget
In Kompas (July 7, 2017), lawyer Todung Mulya Lubis wrote that "corruption is not a matter of numbers". I agree! The money, as the proceeds of corruption that is returned to the state, is not comparable with the cost of organizing corruption eradication. That is why my colleagues in the House of Representatives, with their right of inquiry, want the KPK to be effective. If necessary, the KPK is dissolved and all costs to be used for corruption eradication are given to the House members, or added to the budget to increase funding for political parties, so that representatives can have sufficient funds to fight for the interests of the people, and especially their own interests.
So, give the budget for corruption eradication to the House members to enable them to participate in eradicating corruption. When the budget to eradicate corruption later becomes corrupt, perhaps that will be the highest achievement of corruptors: corrupting the budget for corruption eradication.
Democracy of corruption
In a democratic world, differences in opinion are natural. What is important is that, like the principle of House members, there can be differences in opinion so as long as there are no differences in incomes. Democracy guarantees every citizen to express their opinion. Therefore, those who agree with or oppose the corruption eradication should be equally respected. Citing the poet Chairil Anwar, "all are worth noting, all have their place."
Corruptors must also be respected as an important part of the development of democracy in the country. The principle of democracy is from the people, by the people and for the people.
Good corruptors always adhere to that principle. Because of this, corruption is always done on behalf of the people and in the interests of the people. For example, the corrupt procurement of the [Islamic] scriptures is obviously for the benefit of the people. Because the scriptures are not only for oneself.
So far, we have always said that corruption causes poverty. That is a wrong way of thinking. No one who ever conducted corruption has become poor! The number of poor people is increasing, but I think it is necessary.In any case, politicians desperately need the poor to use them during the general elections or regional elections. The poor are needed to gain votes.
Moreover, being poor is not against the law. So there is no need to question it. It is better to question intolerance and the threat of radicalism.
Disband the KPK
Therefore, we no longer need to question corruptors. There are still many law-abiding corruptors. The proof is that many corruptors are cooperative and have become justice collaborators. Corruptors always respect the legal process. If they are named suspects or defendants in corruption cases, they have no need to flee. Let fugitives be only those people who are involved in pornography cases.
We have to maintain the dignity of corruptors so as to be useful for the state and country. In any case, corruptors also have a responsibility to build and improve the nation, in the way they can.
It is in this context that corruptors actually never take state funds, but instead saves state funds by depositing it in personal accounts. If they are caught, see, the money remains intact and is simply returned. Imagine if state funds are not "temporarily saved" in the corruptors’ accounts: state funds may run out through investing in projects that are eventually abandoned.
Rather than wasting state funds, it is better to use it for families and children in need. Of course, the family and children in question are those of the corruptors themselves. If all the corruptors’ families prosper, this helps the government reduce the number of poor families.
As true corruptors, let us fight against the bad stigma of corruptors. Hindrances will be resolved, obstacles will be overcome (Rawe-rawe rantas, malang-malang putung): we can eradicate corruption, the important thing is that we still profit! So today, officially and in acclamation, we dissolve the KPK!
I awake in shock. It’s just a dream. But is it just a dream? What if this really happens, or will soon come to pass…
AGUS NOOR
Director of Our Creative Indonesia
