Don’t Support Ex-Corruptors

KOMPAS/RUNIK SRI ASTUTI

Painters take part in a mural competition, on Wednesday (19/8/2020). This competition was held by the Sidoarjo KPU to socialize the regional elections during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Coruptus (to corrupt) in Latin means to destroy, mar, bribe, cheat, seduce or offend. All are extremely bad.

Lecturer B. Herry Priyono of the Driyarkara School of Philosophy (STF) in Jakarta provides a detailed description of the meaning of “corruptor” in his book, Melacak Arti, Menyimak Implikasi (Tracing the Meaning, Heeding the Implications).

Today, as many political parties plan to nominate convicted corruptors for the 2020 regional head election, the etymology of the word corruption needs restudying.

Also read: Political Parties Going Nowhere

The Society for Elections and Democracy (Perludem) noted that at least four former corruptors had received the go-ahead from as many political parties to register as participants of the regional elections on 4-6 Sept. 2020. The four prospective candidates plan to run for the regional heads of Bengkulu, North Sulawesi, Manado (North Sulawesi) and Sintang regency (West Kalimantan) (Kompas, 22/8/2020).

One of the considerations among the parties is that these candidates have high electability. Another is that these former corruptors have already served their sentences and it would be too much to judge that they can’t do anything right because of mistakes they made in the past.

Former convicts must also be public about their backgrounds as former convicts, and they may not be repeat offenders.

Legally, no regulations prohibit former corruptors from contesting the regional elections. The 2019 Constitutional Court (MK) ruling only requires that former convicts, including former corruptors, refrain from political participation for five years after serving their prison sentences. Former convicts must also be public about their backgrounds as former convicts, and they may not be repeat offenders.

Kompas/Wawan H Prabowo

The Constitutional Court (MK) building in Jakarta, on Monday (1/6/2020).

Ex-corruptors should not be discriminated against. The question is whether political parties truly do not have any other cadres who would be better candidates than former corruptors. Have other potential cadres been given the same opportunity? Or does this simply reveal the weak vision of political parties for eradicating corruption that is deeply rooted in this country?

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The facts show that corruption is becoming worse in the regions. Since the direct election was adopted in 2005, 300 regional heads in Indonesia have been named as corruption suspects, of which 124 have been prosecuted by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). Some are repeat offenders. If a political party has a strong vision on eradicating corruption, it would certainly look for prospective candidates who have a good track record and are anti-corruption instead of choosing former corruptors.

The future challenges in the regions will be even greater due to the increasing global competition, climate change and the pandemic. Having regional heads that possess integrity, are competent and dedicated to the people and not himself is vital. Political parties need to fulfill their role in producing the best leaders in the country.

Plato, the Ancient Greek philosopher who lived from 427-347 BC, said that a nation’s servants must render their services without any expectations of gifts or rewards. It would be a major setback if today’s political parties are favoring former corruptors.