Maintaining Anticorruption Energy

KOMPAS/PRAYOGI DWI SULISTYO

The Corruption Eradication Commission led by KPK Deputy Chairman Nawawi Pomolango (center) held a press conference on the activities of the arrest of the East Kutai Regent, East Kalimantan, Ismunandar at the KPK Building, Jakarta, Friday (3/7/2020).

Among the most mentioned words in Indonesia is corruption. Messages or studies about corruption are common.

Among the latest statements related to corruption were made by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo in his remarks during the commemoration of World Anti-Corruption Day. In the event, which was held on Wednesday (16/12/2020), the President emphasized, among other things, that the spirit and efforts to eradicate corruption must not be weakened.

Almost the same message was conveyed by the President during the commemoration of Anti-Corruption Day in 2019. At that time, the President said efforts to fight corruption needed to be continued (Kompas, 10/12/2019). During Anti-Corruption Day in 2018 , the President invited all components of the nation to make the anticorruption movement a common movement (Kompas, 5/12/2018).

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A number of groups have also repeatedly conveyed similar messages regarding the eradication of corruption, such as intellectuals, politicians, activists and religious leaders.

In 2018, the word corruption was found in 2,445 news items or articles.

The emergence of these messages indicates that corruption is indeed one of the biggest problems of this nation and has become part of our everyday life. The Kompas Information Center (PIK) recorded that the word “corruption” was found in 3,112 news items or articles in Kompas daily throughout 2016. It means that on average, every day there were 8.5 news items or articles in Kompas that  contained the word corruption. In 2018, the word corruption was found in 2,445 news items or articles.

KOMPAS/HERU SRI KUMORO

General Elections Commission (KPU) commissioner Wahyu Setiawan, wearing a detention vest, sits in a car ready to transport him to detention on 23 Jan. 2020 at the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). Wahyu was questioned as a suspect in a bribery case surrounding the replacement of a lawmaker from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).

The word corruption was even found in the June 30, 1965 edition of Kompas, which was the third day of the publication of this newspaper. The word corruption appeared in an article titled “ Tikus HI di Bekuk” (HI’s Rat Caught) . The article was on an employee of Hotel Indonesia who pocketed money from paying customers. He then used the money to buy a house in Tanjung Priok. The story that appeared more than 55 years ago is still similar to a number of current corruption cases, such as those related to social assistance or lobster larvae exports.

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This does not mean that there has not been progress in corruption eradication in Indonesia. The score of Indonesia\'s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) in 2019 was 40. The score shows a significant improvement if it is compared to that in 1998, when Indonesia\'s CPI was still 20. The CPI ranges between 0 (highly corrupt) and 100 (very clean).

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is capable of investigating corruption cases in executive, legislative and judiciary institutions and deserves appreciation.

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A number of these achievements also indicate that the eradication of corruption in the country not only requires consistency of policies and statements but also the acceleration of actions. Corruption is not only detrimental to state finances but as stated by philosophy lecturer B. Herry Priyono, corruption has also decayed the performances, goals and objectives of these institutions. If the decay is not resolved quickly, our lives will also be threatened.