Alleged Corruption Case in ATR/BPN Becomes a Test of Presidential Commitment
The alleged corruption case within the Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency (ATR/BPN) is considered a serious test of the President’s commitment to eradicating corruption. Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) has called on President Prabowo Subianto to ensure that reforms are implemented if corruption allegations emerge from within the government’s own circles.
Wana Alamsyah, Head of the Law and Investigation Division and a researcher at ICW, believes that the President’s anti-corruption commitment must go beyond mere political statements. According to him, the case involving several individuals identified as confidants of Minister of ATR/BPN Nusron Wahid must serve as a momentum to prove that commitment.
“This case must be a serious test for the President’s anti-corruption commitment. Corruption eradication should not be fierce in speeches but weaken when the case touches people around government officials,” Wana said on Wednesday.
Wana requested that the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) not stop at the announcement of suspects. The anti-corruption agency is deemed to need a thorough investigation to uncover the potential involvement of other parties behind the practices currently under investigation.
He noted that investigators need to trace those who issued orders, those who profited, and the possibility of other officials being involved in the matter. “The KPK must uncover this case to its roots. Do not stop at those who have already become suspects,” he added.
In this matter, the KPK has also revealed allegations of money flows in the management of land services. Investigators found, among other things, alleged receipt of funds amounting to billions of rupiah linked to several suspects.
ICW believes that handling the case should not be solely the responsibility of law enforcement agencies. Wana stated that Prabowo has a responsibility to ensure that the cabinet and ministries under his government are free from corrupt practices.
“The President cannot simply delegate this issue to law enforcement. The President is responsible for ensuring his cabinet is clean. If there are serious issues in a ministry, the President must conduct an evaluation of the minister and their subordinates,” said Wana.
He assessed that an evaluation of the ministry is necessary to ensure that the emerging problems do not end with the legal process against individuals, but are also followed by internal government improvements.
Wana believes that Prabowo needs to demonstrate consistency between the anti-corruption commitment presented to the public and his actions when corruption allegations arise from within his own government. “There should not be an impression that the President asks the public to believe in the commitment to eradicate corruption, but fails to implement reforms when corruption allegations emerge from within his own government,” he said.
Therefore, Wana believes the proof of Prabowo’s anti-corruption commitment will be seen in his courage to reform the government while ensuring the legal process proceeds without intervention. “The measure of the President’s anti-corruption commitment is simple: whether he is brave enough to clean his own government and allow the legal process to run without interference,” Wara concluded.
Zaenur Rohman noted that land issues have widespread vulnerabilities because they intersect with the authority to issue and manage land rights.