Corruption: How to fight it?

Corruption: How to fight it?

We often read statements from government officials and
community leaders that we must fight corruption, that we must
fight collusion, that we must fight communism, that we must fight
primordialism and other evil things. But all these statements
have little value if we do not mention how to fight them.

The government warns people to be alert against possible
communist activity, but where are the government guidelines on
how to fight it. Detection of social or political evils is
important but giving guidance of how to fight them is more
important.

Sociologist Loekman Soetrisno once said that freedom of the
press and democracy would wipe out corruption. This is too good
to be true. Minister of Administrative Reforms Silalahi said that
corruption will die a natural death due to the existence of an
award called the Abdi Satya Bhakti. What a simple way of
thinking! Fortunately members of the DPR (House of
Representatives) like Marsinggih Marsid of Commission V and
Mohamad Mansyur of Commission X have dismissed this as pure
nonsense (Merdeka, Sept. 18).

How can corruption die a natural death if we are doing
nothing? Corruption and other social evils remain, despite some
government efforts.

The Development and Finance Control Board (BPKP) in the fiscal
year 1995/1996 discovered 14,572 cases which caused losses of Rp
532.59 billion. BPKP Chairman Soedarjono stated that government
agencies have shown minimal concern, which hurt BPKP (The Jakarta
Post, Sept. 20).

I think BPKP should report its findings to the Attorney
General's Office. With the help of other government agencies,
maybe it will be able to distinguish between administrative
deviations and genuine corruption.

In short, I think we should focus on the "how" rather than on
the "must."

SOEGIH ARTO

Jakarta