Problem of KKN<\/p>\n
Minister of Manpower Bomer Pasaribu's recent reaction to the
\npublic suspicion that he may be involved in corruption, collusion
\nand nepotism (KKN) reflects an interesting viewpoint. Mr. Bomer
\nsaid that because the President recently gave him an official
\nassignment, this is proof that he is not one of the three
\nministers being investigated for KKN. This viewpoint suggests
\nthat personal corruption is a matter to be divined from
\nexternalities.<\/p>\n
Instead, shouldn't Mr. Bomer simply recall his past conduct to
\ndetermine whether he is guilty of corruption? Or maybe Mr. Bomer
\nand other ministers are no longer clear about what corruption is?
\nThere is such a long history in the bureaucracy of requiring
\ngifts (disguised as unofficial administration fees, coffee money
\nor a little understanding) in exchange for doing one's public
\nduty or doing it more expeditiously, that some may no longer
\nremember that this is one variety of corruption. It has become so
\nacceptable for officials to make decisions that benefit
\nthemselves or their families and friends rather than the public,
\nthat the very concept of conflict of interest may be a lost
\nsensibility. Favoring family members in employment is often
\nconsidered not an impropriety but an obligation. And then
\nthere is the most lucrative part of the KKN trinity, mutually
\nprofitable collusion between private citizens\/businesspeople and
\nthose officials who are supposed to uphold the law.<\/p>\n
A national consciousness-raising campaign (a low-budget
\ncampaign) might be a good first volley in the President's war
\nagainst KKN. Let the appropriate government department (either
\nthe Attorney General's Office or the Ministry of Law and
\nLegislation) draft new regulations defining KKN in a way that
\ngives ordinary citizens a concrete understanding of what is right
\nand what is wrong, and disseminate these regulations in the
\ncommunity. If one does not already exist, draft a clear code of
\nconduct for government officials. Let the public know the
\ncontents of this code. Then Mr. Bomer and friends will know
\nwhether they have violated the laws against corruption when they
\nlook in the mirror in the morning, not after they arrive in their
\noffices and look in their in-boxes.<\/p>\n
In fairness to Mr. Bomer, in fact he may not be one of the
\nministers under investigation. He may be someone who in
\nall his public life has never violated anticorruption principles.
\nBut Mr. Bomer's basis for proclaiming his innocence -- namely,
\nthat the President still treats him like a bona fide Minister --
\nreflects a broken moral compass.<\/p>\n
If Mr. Bomer would like to show his bona fides as a noncorrupt
\nminister of manpower, he might like to start in his hometown,
\nMedan. Each visit to the local manpower office is a new battle to
\nget required documents processed promptly without paying
\nextortion money to lower officials who insist that they must give
\nmoney to their superiors. While the regional office of the
\nMinistry of Manpower has been helpful, should it be necessary for
\ncompanies to send their directors to the regional office to
\nensure that documents are handled honestly? For details I invite
\nBomer Pasaribu to visit me when he next comes to Medan.<\/p>\n
DONNA K. WOODWARD<\/p>\n
Medan, North Sumatra<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/problem-of-kkn-1447899208", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }