Non-active House of Representatives deputy speaker Taufik Kurniawan (right) enters the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) building for questioning in Jakarta on Wednesday (7/11/2018). Taufik is suspected of accepting a gift in connection with the special budget allocation (DAK) for Kebumen regency in the revised 2016 state budget.
JAKARTA, KOMPAS – Licensure is one source of corruption in the country’s bureaucracy. Restructuring and cultural changes, especially within the bureaucracy, are needed to overcome the problem.
Real solutions are need to optimize bureaucratic reform. A combined results-and-process oriented approach is necessary to implement a smooth, clean and innovative bureaucracy.
The business world extensively implements a results-oriented approach, which means that businesses often desire a speedy permit process. The bureaucracy, on the other hand, applies a process-oriented approach that requires careful steps in issuing permits.
“By synergizing these two orientations, the efforts to improve public services will bear fruit and bureaucracy will be cleaner and more efficient. There are many cases at the [Corruption Eradication Commission] because of these differing approaches between businesses and bureaucracy,” Vice President Jusuf Kalla said in his opening speech on Wednesday (11/7/2018) at the International Public Service Forum 2018 in Jakarta.
Attending the event, themed “Expanding and Improving Service Delivery through Collaborative Action”, were Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna H. Laoly, Environmental and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar and Education and Culture Minister Muhadjir Effendy, as well as several provincial, regency and municipal leaders.
Licensure issues are a major factor that has led to the arrest of many regional heads and civil servants. Among the regional heads most recently arrested for corruption or named as corruption suspects is non-active Bekasi regent Neneng Hasanah Yasin. Four members of the Central Kalimantan legislative council (DPRD) were also recently named as suspects in a corruption case concerning the disposal of palm oil waste.
Bribes amounting to billions of rupiah have changed hands in connection with permit issuance as well as with other bureaucratic processes, for example illegal fees collected for public services. Data from Satgas Saber Pungli (illegal levies eradication task force) shows that 36,427 reports were filed on illegal levies between Oct. 28, 2016 and Oct. 15, 2018. The illegal levy reports concerned public services at 52 percent, education (20 percent), legal affairs (8 percent), licensure (5 percent), employee affairs (5 percent), procurement (5 percent) and other sectors (5 percent).
Not yet optimal
Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform Minister Syafruddin acknowledged that bureaucratic reform was far from optimal, especially as evidenced by Satgas Saber Pungli’s numerous findings.
“If we are still encountering [illegal levies], this means that the system is still imperfect, right? [It] is not yet perfect. We need to [align] what is lacking and what we are doing. We need to find a middle ground between the two,” he said.
Syafruddin emphasized the importance of the bureaucracy to remain committed to being free from corruption. “Prevention efforts and legal processes must continue if we want progress,” he said.
Social and political sciences professor Eko Prasodjo at the University of Indonesia said that the relationship between the bureaucracy and private companies highly depended on the bureaucracy’s structure and culture, as private companies had to follow the established bureaucratic structure and culture.
“Corruption cases that involve [the private sector] occur because of the opportunities present in the bureaucracy,” he said.
At least three outstanding issues existed in bureaucratic reform: the national bureaucracy’s lack of a deeply rooted anticorruption culture, the prevalence of political intervention in internal bureaucratic processes, and the lack of sustainable and innovative programs among the regional leadership.
“Radical changes are necessary for bureaucratic reform to progress seriously and comprehensively. Structural repairs alone will not be enough. Cultural adjustments must also be made, and this takes time,” said Eko.
Separately, Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) deputy chief Laode M. Syarif expressed his hope that all parties, including private companies, would conduct business with integrity and in compliance with all licensing regulations to prevent bribery. Bribes from private entities were closely linked to the complicated bureaucracy of processing permits.
The KPK has launched the JAGA application that facilitates public participation in monitoring and improving public services, including permit applications.
“We have reminded everyone continuously. We have deployed teams to monitor [the bureaucracy]. The bureaucracy must really follow up on initiatives to change their professional behavior and adherence to regulations, including through optimizing its one-stop public service system. Online licensing would be far more effective,” said Laode.
Researcher Hifdzil Alim at the Gadjah Mada University corruption studies center (PUKAT UGM) echoed Laode’s statement. He said that overlapping regulations on licensing authorities and the many technical agencies that had yet to hand their licensing authority to a One-Stop Integrated Service (PTSP) center had caused corruption to continue unabated. Moreover, the regional heads had poor commitment.
“Many regional heads benefit from the [illegal] licensing levies, for instance to recoup their election expenses. In regions that have political dynasties, licensure is fertile ground for reaping personal benefits. On the other hand, the public is yet to realize the importance of their direct participation in monitoring and [government],” he said. (IAN/BOW)
