BPOM and KPK Strengthen Employee Integrity Through National Mental Development Programme

The Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) and the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) are strengthening the integrity of human resources through a National Mental Development programme (Bintalnas) to serve the public. BPOM Head Taruna Ikrar in Jakarta on Wednesday stressed the importance of integrity, noting that BPOM is involved in activities from pre-market to post-market, carrying out tasks ranging from mentoring and supervision to enforcement. He said BPOM engages with many stakeholders, from the public and industry to the wider community. “As the gateway, as the foremost protector in terms of drugs and food, we are the guarantors of safety, quality, and the results of all products that reach the public. Therefore, it must start with what is called integrity, quality, spirit, and motivation from all our employees,” he said. Secretary-General of the Ministry of Manpower Cris Kuntadi welcomed BPOM’s initiative as an effort to prevent corruption, collusion, and nepotism within the agency. “We have currently implemented SMART and SIKENCUR, an Anti-Bribery Management System, and Alhamdulillah have obtained ISO 37001. And we are also implementing a Fraud Control System,” he said. His party shared with BPOM employees about the implementation of the anti-fraud system. KPK Director of Anti-Corruption Socialisation and Campaign Amir Arief said that a spirit of professional and integrity-driven public service is a crucial part of the corruption prevention system. According to him, eradicating corruption is not enough with just punishment and prosecution. However, he said, there are two other important approaches: improving governance, bureaucratic reform, and all the systems built. “But the key is the first approach: strengthening individuals with integrity. Today is an important start, because no matter the system, no matter the disciplinary enforcement, no matter the prosecution, it will not work if the key, the individual employee, is not safeguarded,” he said. Therefore, he appreciated the forum, as it is important for strengthening improvements, bureaucratic reform, and the quality of public service.