Focus on Bribery!

KOMPAS/ALIF ICHWAN

Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigators Jakarta detain Tiaisah Ritonga (center), a member of the North Sumatra Legislative Council (DPRD), after questioning her on Wednesday (11/7/2018). Tiaisah was arrested as a suspect for alleged bribery in a case involving former North Sumatra governor Gatot Pujo Nugroho.

A search by this daily about the still rampant bribery in roadworthiness tests indicates that bribery is a national problem that has not yet been resolved.

Bribery is an “ancient” practice of corruption that has been around since the Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie (VOC). Even the late-18th century destruction of the Dutch trade partnership was undermined by acute corruption.

Dukut Imam Widodo, the author of Soerabaia Tempo Doeloe, wrote that Nicolas Engelhard, the Javanese East Coast governor in 1805, became wealthy because of bribes (tributes) from indigenous people who sought a position. [Korupsi Mengkorupsi Indonesia (Corruption Corrupts Indonesia), 2009].

The trail of corruption in Indonesia actually has deep roots in everyday life. The practice of tributes, bribery, corruption, commission or more contemporarily, gratuities, remains rooted, even though the political system has shifted from the colonial to the democratic era. Many attempts have been made to tackle corruption, but have failed. The Bintang Timur daily wrote in 1953: "Anticorruption Movement is formed in Djakarta". This was followed by the Mestika daily in August 1955 with its big headline: "Toward Corruption Eradication – Accountants are Deployed in Inspections".

The nation has been fighting corruption for more than 65 years, but it has not yet been wiped out. Looking at the map of corruption in Indonesia, whether in public service or in accepting commissions or gratuities, bribery remains rampant!

The public also believes that bribery constitutes the majority of corruption. Bribes enrich those who accept them. They accept bribes because they have commercialized their power. In bribery, there is no consideration of whether it would cause losses to the state. Looking at the map of corruption – or actually, bribery – it seems that our grand strategy for eradicating corruption would be to focus the nation on fighting bribery. The move to combat bribery in all public services should be focused on and directed towards active and preventive measures.

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has arrested several regents and House of Representatives (DPR) members for accepting bribes. These arrests, which are active measures, should be balanced with a strategy for preventing the acceptance of bribes in the future. The nation’s leaders should launch a comprehensive measure and national campaign to combat bribery, as well as efforts to prevent bribery from occurring again and again.

Combating bribery should not be mere ceremony. President Joko Widodo formed the Saber Pungli (illegal levy eradication task force) headed by Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Wiranto, but its activities are no longer heard about. Take advantage of the arrest of House member Eni Saragih and a number of entrepreneurs to declare war against bribery.

We encourage the KPK to track down bribery through the accounts of those who paid the bribes. By conducting a forensic audit of these “providers”, it can be discovered where the funds are flowing. Examining the forensic audits through all levels of communication can hopefully reveal greater findings.