Udin, Aceh's corruption fighter<\/p>\n
Nani Afrida, Banda Aceh<\/p>\n
What is the most infamous thing about Aceh besides its armed
\nconflict? Ask this question of Akhiruddin and he will answer with
\nconfidence: \"The corruption.\"<\/p>\n
The 30-year-old is the coordinator of Anti-Corruption
\nSolidarity (SORAK), a non-governmental organization that has for
\nthe past four years been actively scrutinizing the practice of
\ngood governance in Aceh.<\/p>\n
\"Aceh is the most corrupt region in Indonesia. Billions of
\nrupiah allocated by the central government for the Acehnese have
\nbeen misused. Things are even worse because we do not know who
\nshould be held responsible for this,\" said Udin, as Akhiruddin is
\nknown.<\/p>\n
Dealing with corrupt officials is nothing new for Akhiruddin.
\nHis first encounter with a corruption case was in 1999, when he
\nwas still a student in the School of Accounting at state Syiah
\nKuala University in Banda Aceh.<\/p>\n
He says that he reported financial irregularities in campus
\nconstruction projects, adding that he was almost kicked out of
\nschool for daring to call attention to the corruption.<\/p>\n
\"I was almost kicked out of school because I involved myself
\nin the matter. I was ready to graduate in just a few months,\"
\nUdin, who was born in Bone, South Sulawesi, told The Jakarta
\nPost.<\/p>\n
He did graduate, after which he joined the anticorruption NGO
\nCare for the Acehnese Economy (PEKA). He did not stay long with
\nthe organization because of differences of opinion he had with
\nthe leaders.<\/p>\n
He later set up his own anticorruption organization, SORAK,
\nwhich actively campaigns against corruption, a problem Udin
\nthinks has become ingrained in the province.<\/p>\n
Investigating a corruption practice takes bravery and
\nperseverance, especially when it comes to turning down bribes to
\ndrop the matter<\/p>\n
Udin said his organization had to remain cautious and prudent
\nthroughout the entire process of examining financial reports. And
\nas soon as they gather enough evidence, they can file a report
\nwith the police.<\/p>\n
He said the state has suffered huge financial losses during
\nthe administration of Governor Abdullah Puteh, who was recently
\ndeclared a graft suspect by the Corruption Eradication Commission
\n(KPK). The governor is alleged to have been involved in a mark-up
\nof the purchase of a Russian Mi-2 helicopter by the Aceh
\nadministration in 2002, causing Rp 4 billion in state losses.<\/p>\n
Udin said there were two other cases -- the Rp 30 billion
\npurchase of a generator for state electricity company PLN and the
\nundeclared distribution of allowances to members of the
\nprovincial legislature -- that proved the governor's involvement
\nin corruption.<\/p>\n
\"The mark-up of the helicopter is being investigated by the
\nKPK, but we are wondering why it is taking so long,\" Udin said.<\/p>\n
He said the slow pace of corruption investigations always
\ndisappointed him. But he maintains his faith that no wrongdoer
\ncan escape the long arm of the law.<\/p>\n
\"Although the Acehnese governor is being investigated as a
\nwitness, overall it has proved my belief is correct,\" he said
\nwith a smile.<\/p>\n
Udin said the armed conflict in Aceh, which began in 1976, has
\nprovided cover to the Aceh government to practice corruption. He
\nsaid the conflict diverted people's attention from the
\ncorruption.<\/p>\n
Under its special autonomy status, Aceh gets Rp 3 trillion
\nfrom the central government annually. However, it is plain for
\nall to see that poverty and unemployment remain major problems in
\nAceh despite its special status.<\/p>\n
He said he had never received death threats from corruptors.
\nHowever, he spoke of receiving various warnings from anonymous
\ncallers, but added that did not deter him from his work.<\/p>\n
\"We know who the callers are. We are sure they must be the
\npeople who are troubled by our investigations,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Nor does his relatively small salary discourage Udin from
\nfighting corruption.<\/p>\n
Besides his monthly salary, his family is also supported by
\nthe salary of his wife Mawardah, who is a teacher, and from
\nMawardah's two-hectare palm oil plantation.<\/p>\n
\"Since 2003, I have been making Rp 2.5 million. Back in 2000,
\nI had to rely on financial help from local anticorruption NGOs,\"
\nthe father of one recalled.<\/p>\n
He added that his current salary was only enough to pay for
\nhis monthly phone bill.<\/p>\n
\"If you want to be rich, don't be an anticorruption activist.
\nMoreover, you'll be accused of receiving bribes if you ever make
\nsome money,\" Udin said with a laugh.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/udin-acehs-corruption-fighter-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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