Anger mixed with astonishment over a corruption case at the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry has yet to die down as another corruption case has emerged at the Social Affairs Ministry.
By
EDITOR
·3 minutes read
Kompas/Wawan H Prabowo
Social Affairs Minister Affairs Juliari P Batubara wearing a vest of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) after undergoing examination by the KPK investigative team at the KPK\'s Red and White House, Kuningan, Jakarta, on Sunday (6/12/2020).
Anger mixed with astonishment over a corruption case at the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry has yet to die down as another corruption case has emerged at the Social Affairs Ministry.
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) named Social Affairs Minister Juliari P Batubara a suspect on Sunday (6/12/2020) in a bribery case pertaining to the distribution of COVID-19 social aid in the Greater Jakarta area. There are five suspects in total.
Previously, the KPK arrested Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Edhy Prabowo for alleged corruption in the export of lobster larvae or benur, as well as Cimahi Mayor Ajay Muhammad Priatna, Banggai Laut Regent Wenny Bukamo and a number of officials in charge of making commitments.
What a disgrace. As this country is hit by the Covid-19 pandemic and enters the abyss of recession, there are still officials who have the heart to steal people\'s money. Those tasked with bringing this nation out of the crisis have enriched themselves and made this country sink down further.
Eyes seem to have been blinded as Covid-19 has killed 17,740 people and infected 575,796 others. Ears seem to have been deafened despite the screams of 2.67 million people who have been laid off due to the pandemic. Unemployed in this country as of August 2020 has reached 9.77 million people. The country is also in a recession as the economy has contracted for two consecutive quarters.
The public even hopes that the KPK can thoroughly investigate, indiscriminately, anyone who still has the heart to commit corruption when the country is in such a difficult state.
The KPK\'s work to catch corrupt officials during the pandemic should be appreciated. The public even hopes that the KPK can thoroughly investigate, indiscriminately, anyone who still has the heart to commit corruption when the country is in such a difficult state.
The strong public pressure to punish corrupt officials as severely as possible during this pandemic is understandable. Regulations also emphasize that the punishment for corruption during a disaster is likely to be heavier. Moreover, this corruption is related to the disaster budget.
Kompas/Heru Sri Kumoro
Chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Filri Bahuri (center), explains to the press about the arrest operation of a number of officials at the Ministry of Social Affairs related to social assistance (Bansos) for the Greater Jakarta area 2020 at the KPK Building, Jakarta, on Sunday (6/12/2020).
The World Economic Forum has warned that the Covid-19 pandemic will create a situation that can encourage corruption. As governments increase emergency response spending to cope with the pandemic, the risk of corruption and abuse also increases exponentially. A recent survey by an anti-fraud consulting firm found that, out of 58 countries surveyed, corruption was mainly related to purchasing and/or accessing the health assistance.
This situation can ultimately exacerbate and prolong the impact of the crisis. In dealing with this situation, it is necessary to build strong and close cooperation among dedicated officials, civil society coalitions, the business community, as well as funders, in order to build accountability and effectiveness. Transparency and public participation are very important to ensure that they are right on target and no one abuses it.
In addition to ensuring that corrupt officials in the pandemic are arrested and severely punished, the KPK must encourage transparency and public participation, so that opportunities for corruption are increasingly closed.
