Appreciation Rises, Bribery and Unemployment Become a Challenge

The Kompas survey shows an increase in public appreciation of government performance. However, there are still two indicators with a level of public appreciation below 50 percent.

MAWAR KUSUMA WULAN/KOMPAS

President Joko Widodo and Vice President Ma'ruf Amin chat before the Inauguration of the Governor and Deputy Governor of D.I. Yogyakarta at the State Palace, Jakarta, Monday (10/10/2022).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Of the seven indicators of government performance that in the Kompas survey last January were considered unsatisfactory, in the May 2023 survey there remained two indicators that were unsatisfactory, namely eradicating bribery and buying and selling legal cases, providing employment and reducing unemployment. The May 2023 survey results show the government's efforts to take care of various responsibilities are appreciated by the public so their consistency must be strengthened until the end of the government period.

The results of the Kompas Research and Development Survey from 29 April to 10 May 2023 showed satisfaction with the performance of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and Vice President Ma'ruf Amin amounted to 70.1 percent, up 0.8 percent from the January 2023 survey. Of the four fields reviewed, law enforcement is in the fourth-lowest position in the level of public appreciation (59 percent), followed by the economy (59.5 percent), security politics (74.4 percent) and social welfare (78 percent).

Judging from 20 indicators in the four fields, there are several indicators that improved, as indicated by the reduction in number of indicators with a level of satisfaction below 50 percent from seven in January 2023 to two in May 2023. The two indicators still below 50 percent, despite improvement compared to the January survey, are eradicating bribery and buying and selling legal cases (42 percent) and providing employment or reducing unemployment (43.8 percent).

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There are five other indicators in the May 2023 Survey of Public Satisfaction that increased to above 50 percent: eradicating corruption, collusion and nepotism (KKN), ensuring equal treatment by law enforcement to all citizens, empowering farmers and fishermen and controlling the prices of goods and services, and overcoming poverty.

Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD, who was met in Jakarta, on Friday (19/5/2023), assessed that increasing public satisfaction with the government was inextricably linked to intensive efforts to improve performance in all sectors. President Jokowi directly controls the steps to improvement through ministers in routine and high-intensity meetings.

"That means, every time the president calls the ministers, their respective performance is reviewed, with problems reported and a promise given on action to take in the next month. That is always well-controlled, so it is only natural if satisfaction with government performance continues to increase," he said.

KOMPAS/HERU SRI KUMORO

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD.

The field of law

Moreover, Mahfud added, the government improved its performance in the field of law. One indicator relates to the settlement of legal cases that are of concern to the public. The law enforcement institutions are coordinated so there are no legal cases left unresolved. In addition, it continues to strive for the formation of laws that can accelerate law enforcement, one of which is the draft law of confiscation of assets of criminal acts.

The government also ensures citizens receive the same treatment before the law. Violators of law are prosecuted. The police and prosecutors continue to improve. Because, in the era of information disclosure, none can hide violations of the law.

Regarding indicators of eradicating bribery and buying and selling legal cases whose value is still below 50 percent, Mahfud said, the eradication of corruption in the future would use the bribery article, no longer a state loss. Thus, those who give and receive bribes will be arrested as an example for those who want to bribe state administrators.

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In addition, another focus is to change the parameters of state losses into a loss of the state's economy. Because, often the value of state losses is much smaller than if calculated using the scale of the state's economy loss. Through this approach, more state money will be saved.

Separately, a public policy lecturer at Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta, Gabriel Lele, viewed the level of public satisfaction, 70.1 percent, as a very impressive achievement, especially when compared to other countries internationally. However, in the context of Indonesia, which continues to make arrangements, it is not an ideal figure. "In my imagination, it should be able to amount to at least 80 percent," Gabriel said.

He added, it was natural the level of public satisfaction had not been ideal because several sectors were still weak, one of which was law enforcement. In the Kompas Research and Development survey, even though satisfaction in the field of law enforcement rose compared to the January 2023 survey, the figure was still below 60 percent. According to Gabriel, it showed the public had responded positively, but was limited to the completion of cases that attracted public attention.

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

Supreme Court Justice Gazalba Saleh, wearing a prisoner's vest, was taken by officers to the detention car after being examined and declared a suspect in a bribery case at the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), Jakarta, Thursday (8/12/2022).

In that context, Gabriel predicted the steps taken by the government in the remaining term of office would still be temporary and situational. In fact, comprehensive steps are also needed to improve law enforcement systematically, for example improving several regulations considered problematic. Cultural issues in law enforcement institutions must be addressed because there is still a record that often causes law enforcement to be not optimal.

"The problem of culture is now structured, such as a matter of corruption and playing with bribes. That is no longer something inherent in people, but also in the system, even though the system used is the informal system," he said.

The government must also be able to convince the people related to the neutrality of state officials,

A member of House of Representatives Commission III from the Democratic faction, Didik Mukrianto, asked the government to immediately improve the law enforcement sector in an integrated and sustainable manner, both in the system and in individuals among the authorities. The government must also be able to provide full guarantees for civil freedom, not allow freedom of expression of citizens to be easily criminalized on behalf of law enforcement.

"The government must also be able to convince the people related to the neutrality of state officials, government officials and law enforcement officials ahead of the 2024 elections," he said.

The field of economy

President Special Staff for Economic Affairs Arif Budimanta said there were a number of matters that influenced the increase in public satisfaction, especially in the economic field and social welfare. Inflation control policy has an important effect. "Satisfaction goes up because President Jokowi's policy is mainly in controlling inflation. Inflation control is led directly by the President, together with the central bank and regional heads. And the result during Ramadan was there was no significant price confusion," Arif said.

Regarding satisfaction in the field of job creation and poverty reduction, which is still at 43 percent, Arif said, the government continued to strive for any incoming investment to be directed to create many jobs. The government is also trying to create jobs, capital goods and labor-intensive maintenance. (CA S / N I A / B OW/ D E A / SYA / I N A)

This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo.