Religion 'won't win corruption fight'<\/p>\n
Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Religious leaders have confessed that strict law enforcement and
\nharsh punishments are more effective than religious teachings in
\ncombating corruption.<\/p>\n
Addressing a seminar on corruption eradication on Monday,
\nMuslim cleric Solahuddin Wahid said that although the country
\nsees its people as religious, and the state's ideology is based
\non divinity, Indonesia is ranked among the world's most corrupt
\nnations.<\/p>\n
"Places of worship are abundant and filled to capacity, some
\n200,000 people also perform the haj pilgrimage every year. But
\ncorruption is still rampant," said Solahuddin, also deputy
\nchairman of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM).<\/p>\n
Last year, Indonesia was ranked as fifth most corrupt nation,
\nclimbing one place from sixth in the previous year, based on a
\nreport from the Berlin-based Transparency International (TI).<\/p>\n
Some prominent corruption cases have even occurred within the
\nMinistry of Religious Affairs.<\/p>\n
The guilty parties, Solahuddin said, were not deterred by the
\nknowledge that religion prohibits corruption and that God will
\nsurely punish them.<\/p>\n
"Thus, 'worldly' punishments would be more effective than a
\nreligious approach in battling corruption," said the brother of
\nformer president and Muslim cleric Abdurrahman Wahid.<\/p>\n
Minister Weinata Sairin from the Indonesian Churches
\nAssociation (PGI) said there has been a dichotomy between
\nspiritual life and the professional world.<\/p>\n
"Religiousness is still a matter of ceremony and symbol. The
\nchurches are full of worshipers, but corruption remains," he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Solahuddin said the country's educators should teach universal
\nvalues.<\/p>\n
"We have to teach our children to be honest, hardworking,
\nloving, understanding and disciplined. That money is not the main
\ngoal but rather the fruitage of our hard work," he said.<\/p>\n
Religion would continue to play a vital role, Solahuddin said,
\nbut more to provide warnings and explanations.
\n "But religion is not limited to prayer. Also, there is no such
\nthing as sharia (Islamic) law if justice is not upheld -- we
\nwould hunt down those who did not fast or pray, but free the
\ncorruptors -- for what?" Solahuddin said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, legal expert Romli Atmasasmita urged the government
\nto soon ratify the United Nations' 2003 Convention Against
\nCorruption and translate it into laws and regulations.<\/p>\n
"Ratification would grant us the right to file lawsuits, such
\nas the restoration of corruption assets in other countries. It
\nwould also oblige the government to obey the regulations of the
\nconvention," he said in the seminar.<\/p>\n
Another legal expert, Sunaryati Hartono, said that reform was
\nneeded at all levels of government to avoid corruption, collusion
\nand nepotism.<\/p>\n
"The structure of the administration must be transparent and
\nconsist of individuals of the same status, or on the same level,
\nso that it can be more modern, efficient and democratic,"
\nSunaryati said.<\/p>\n
He said outsourcing was also worth consideration.<\/p>\n
According to Sunaryati, at least nine bills should be passed
\nwithout delay to ensure the government functions at its best.<\/p>\n
They are those on ombudsmen, public services, governmental
\nethics, administrative law, the civil service, the division of
\npower between the central and local governments, the witness
\nprotection scheme, the administrative court and the bill on
\nfreedom of information.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/religion-wont-win-corruption-fight-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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