CORRUPTION ACROSS THE BOARD

CORRUPTION ACROSS THE BOARD BY INDONESIAN INSTITUTIONS

 

The magnitude of corruption in Indonesia without a doubt is very alarming. It is widespread in many major public institutions serving the public across the country.

 

Bribes paid by firms in Indonesia arise principally from red tape, in particular licenses, imposed by local government officials. Red tape generates direct revenues (fees) plus indirect revenues in the form of bribes. The public official at the local level (municipalities) are hampered by insufficient revenues from formal tax and transfer sources to pay competitive salaries to officials and meet public service expenditure requirements, because local tax rates are capped by the center and inter-governmental transfers are limited. Thus the DIRECT and INDIRECT (bribes) revenues from local red tape are very critical to local finances.

 

It does not surprise us why Indonesian Police Department has been ranking on the TOP list of those corrupt institutions in Indonesia consistently for several years despite denial from its Police Chief. This does suggest the magnitude of the corruption in Indonesia knowing that other critical institutions such as: Judicial System, Parliament, Political Parties, Tax Authorities and Local Government were taking the top 5 corrupt institutions.

 

The latest edition of the Transparency International Indonesia (TII) perceptions of corruption survey put the Immigration office as the third most bribed institution in Indonesia, with a third of those surveyed claiming they had paid bribes there. The full list and percentage figures refer to whether respondents claimed to have paid a bribe as below:

 

No.	Name of Institution	Percentage
1.	Police Department	48%
2.	Customs and Excise	41%
3.	Immigration Office	34%
4.	Traffic & Roads Authority (DLLAJR)	33%
5.	City Government	33%
6.	Land Department	32%
7.	Port Authority (Pelindo)	30%
8.	Courts	30%
9.	Justice & Human Rights Department	21%
10.	Airport Authority (Angkasa Pura)	21%
11.	Regional tax offices	17%
12.	Health Department (Depkes)	15%
13.	National tax offices	14%
14.	Food & Drug Department (BPOM)	14%
15.	Religious Council (Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI)	10%

 

 

In the previous year in 2007, similar survey was conducted. The survey was taken based on questions asked to 1,010 people in Jakarta, Surabaya and Bandung. It showed the competition for most corrupt institution was fierce, with the police narrowly winning as the public officials most likely to take bribes:

 

No.	Name of Institution	Score/Index
1.	Police Department	4.2
2.	Judiciary/Judicial System	4.1
3.	Parliament / House of Representatives	4.1
4.	Political Parties	4.0
5.	Registry & Permit Services	3.8
6.	Tax Authorities	3.6
7.	Business & Private Sector	3.1
8.	Utilities	3.1
9.	Military	3.0
10.	Education System	3.0
11.	Non-Government Offices (NGO’s)	2.8
12.	Medical Services	2.8
13.	Media	2.5
14.	Religious Bodies	2.2

 

 

31% of people said they had paid a bribe to obtain services, higher than the 22% average for the Asia Pacific region.

 

March 14th 2007. A separate corruption index, for Asia, put out by the Political and Economic Risk Consultancy (PERC), has been released. Indonesia is still at the second most corrupt country in Asia as Thailand, while the Philippines takes the crown being the most corrupt country in Asia.

 

• 1: Singapore, scored 1.20 (1.30, last year)
• 2: Hong Kong, 1.87 (3.13)
• 3: Japan, 2.10 (3.01)
• 4: Macau, 5.11 (4.78)
• 5: Taiwan, 6.23 (5.91)
• 6: Malaysia, 6.25 (6.13)
• 7: China, 6.29 (7.58)
• 8: South Korea, 6.3 (5.44)
• 9: India, 6.67 (6.76)
• 10: Vietnam 7.54 (7.91)
• 11: Indonesia, 8.03 (8.16),
• 12: Thailand, 8.03 (7.64)
• 13: Philippines, 9.40 (7.80)

 

 

The current President of Indonesia, Dr. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has undertaken vigorous efforts to eradicate much of these corruption debacles. In the absence of Judicial System credibility, KPK (Komisi Pemberantasan Korupsi) was then established to undertake the task. The efforts may have generated some results and deter some of those institutions from committing such a crime wildly and openly.

 

However, there is a deeper question to ask.

 

Using one of the current Presidential candidates; Mr. Rizal Malarangen’s slogans: “If there is a will, there is a way”. This applies to corruption as well, doesn’t it? It neither surprises us nor puzzles us when those institutions are going to develop a different way, much of a tighter and organized way to commit such a crime to circumvent KPK. KPK can continue to hunt down those corruptors and put them in jail. Will this effort eradicate much of the corruption in Indonesia? The answer is absolutely NOT!

 

There are underlying corruption issues that must be addressed. Unless these underlying issues of corruption are addressed and resolved, the corruptions in Indonesia are yet to continue using new methods and tactics.

 

What are the underlying issues of corruption?

 

Corruption is a crime. And a crime happens because of 2 things that happen concurrently, which are:

 

1. A desire to commit crime
2. An opportunity to commit such a crime.

 

Both of these issues need to be addressed by Indonesian Government with whatever means, ways, and capacities she can. What is a better way to minimize gap of opportunity to commit such a crime then establishing PUBLIC OVERSIGHT in every public institution? Public Oversight does not necessarily mean that the public have to be there working in those institutions monitoring their works. The work mechanism and the accounting system or procedures in those institutions shall be open for public scrutiny where all fares or fees are published and there will be no hidden fees. Let’s the public oversee the institutions who serve them. Creates a system of government where the people who work in those institutions responsible directly to the public.

 

One other major factor that must be addressed is of course, the much needed funds (budget allocation by Central Government) for those public institutions who serve the people across the country. No body can run an institution efficiently with lack or insufficient funds. That fund allocation shall include descent salary for the officers or employees to support family to live a descent life. This brings to the next point.

 

One issue that I label it as the circle of the devil why the Indonesian Government is NOT able or incapable of providing the needed funds for those public institutions, especially, at the municipality level is because Indonesia is still in a deep debt trap. Are you aware the significant amount of Indonesia’s current foreign and domestic debts?

 

Double that with the wasteful monstrous Central Government spending over 66% of national budget in 2007, and triple that with insignificant economic policy by the Indonesian government to address the weakening currency Rupiah for the last 28 years, making millions and millions Indonesian people continue to suffer living under poverty for many and many more years if not for a generation to come for lack of employment and job opportunities. It is a sobering reality.

 

I have pointed out over and over again; a broken record on my own through out my political engagements in this election season alone that Indonesia’s Foreign and Domestic Debts are the CIRCLE OF THE DEVIL; the one problem that must be resolved once and for all if we want to see any significant change in Indonesia. This is biggest of the biggest, the number #1 top priority issue that must be resolved by any new President of Indonesia, regardless who they are. Unless this issue is resolved, I don’t see how any significant change to the millions and millions life of Indonesian people can be profoundly claimed.

 

For any President candidate who says otherwise if fooling nobody but herself or himself! The fact, reality and figures are there! Any Presidential candidate who does not mention Indonesia’s massive foreign and domestic as the most depressing issue that must be resolved first in his/her Presidential campaign issues will do nothing but maintaining status quo if elected. Those are Presidential candidates who have style but lack of substance that shall not be supported.

 

It is very unfortunate that as the Presidential election in Indonesia is approaching very rapidly there is not even a single Presidential candidate until today who has the vision and courage to bring up this issue openly and publicly, let alone of coming up with a comprehensive plan to resolve Indonesia’ monstrous debts. All what we see and hear are nothing but empty slogans, empty promises and rhetoric. It is a pathetic reality that remains the same. Do you care? Wake up people!