Bribery in Indonesia

Bribery in Indonesia

From Republika

The problem that to become a civil servant you must pay bribes
is a real one. No less a person than the secretary-general of the
Ministry of Home Affairs has stated that bribery and nepotism in
the recruitment of new employees still exists. This statement
came as no surprise, because bribery has been a problem for a
long time, and is no longer a secret. What surprises me is the
unwillingness of senior officials to uncover the practices of
bribery with the purpose of improving the situation.

I remember that after my graduation in Lampung in 1989 I
wanted to enter the civil service. But I abandoned the idea
because of rumors that one had to pay a levy ranging from between
Rp 2 and 4 million. Unfortunately, it was impossible to verify
the truth of such claims as such deals are done illegally. I took
greater pride in my intelligence and degree rather than the
ability to conjure things by virtue of money.

If you must buy a position how can you be an official of
refined mentality and integrity? It is no surprise that an
unclean bureaucracy produces unclean civil servants who put money
before services. It would seem that illegal levies, corruption,
collusion and the like are common practices which may block the
way to the take-off era.

HERDI DUDUNG

Jakarta