Fighting corruption in Indonesia requires a holistic approach

Thang D. Nguyen, Jakarta

Corruption has been with us since human civilizations first began. Today, it costs governments, businesses, and ordinary citizens worldwide hundreds of billions of dollars per year.

And in Indonesia, fighting corruption is more than daunting a task for its government.

Since he came to power last October, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) has made corruption one of the priorities for his government. He has launched an anti-corruption campaign that, he said, "I myself will lead."

To show that he means business, he has put together a 51- person Coordinating Team for Corruption Eradication (KPK), an anti-graft agency that is put in place to continue what has been -- for the most part -- a mission impossible for its successors.

Thus far, the new campaign appears to have teeth. To start with, the former Aceh governor, Abdullah Puteh, was accused in early last December of taking a cut from the purchase of a Russian helicopter purchased by the government. He is now on trial.

Last month, two other notable individuals were arrested on charges of corruption. The first one is former Bank Mandiri president director, E.C.W. Neloe, whom the Attorney General's Office (AGO) named as a suspect for his alleged role in the lending scam at the giant state-owned bank.

The second one is . Nazaruddin Sjamsuddin, former chairman of the Indonesian General Elections Commission (KPU). The KPK called for Nazaruddin's arrest on the basis of his alleged corruption during last year's elections.

As impressive as the campaign seems, some questions remain: How long will it last? Is it really effective? And, most importantly, will those convicted of corruption walk free or get a light sentence?

The answer is: It is too early to tell.

Meanwhile, one thing is certain: like poverty, corruption will always be with us. It is mainly because greed, which is the root cause of corruption, is a permanent feature of human nature.

Thus, to make the Susilo-led anti-corruption campaign work, its objective should be realistic and achievable. Put differently, the ultimate goal of this campaign should be to reduce corruption in Indonesia to a minimal level.

Why reduce corruption and not get rid of it altogether? It is simply because corruption cannot be terminated.

No one single country -- even those in the West, which prides itself on transparency and good governance -- can claim that it is completely corruption-free. Put differently, corruption exists in all societies, but it is more serious in some than others.

For this reason, the Transparency International (TI) publishes an annual index of corruption, which ranks Indonesia the world's fifth most corrupt nation this year.

But just having a realistic goal of reducing corruption in Indonesia does not guarantee success. In other words, the Susilo- led anti-corruption campaign requires more than naming and arresting corrupters.

To be sure, these arrests signal a good start. They seem, however, to reflect a corrective, rather than a preventive, approach to dealing with corruption.

Thus, the campaign may be more effective if it is executed with a more holistic approach that has three folds. First, Indonesian citizens, regardless of profession, must be given ways to make a living without being or becoming corrupt.

It is understandable that a poorly paid teacher or police officer has to take bribes. Even though he may feel guilty doing it, it's the only way for him to provide for himself or his family.

Therefore, if the Susilo Administration can find ways to increase the salaries for workers across the sectors and reform the civil services, it will help reduce a great deal of corruption; workers and civil servants should not feel the need to be corrupt.

Second, like a people's or revolutionary war, the Susilo-led campaign must be carried out with the "hearts and minds" of the people of Indonesia. In fact, the campaign needs their support to succeed.

Why their support? It's because if encouraged, they will be motivated to provide the KPK with the intelligence, evidence, or witnesses, all of which are necessary for the agency to find and bring corrupters to justice.

The government should, therefore, reward well and give protection to Indonesian citizens who help find out if, and prove that, an individual or organization -- public, private, or otherwise -- has committed corruption.

In fact, this campaign requires the help of the Indonesian civil society and each citizen, if it is to succeed. Or, as the KPK vice-chairman, Erry Riyana Hardjapamekas, puts it, "Let's all light some candles rather than [cursing] the darkness."

Finally, the KPK must show that it means business by giving corrupters who are found guilty the punishments -- imprisonment, fine, or even the death sentence -- they deserve.

It is no news that money and power can easily buy freedom for criminals in Indonesia -- and other parts of the world, for that matter. Therefore, the KPK must be empowered with not only anti- corruption laws, but strong support from the Indonesian legal system, particularly judges, to drive the campaign successfully.

Indonesia is making progress on reducing corruption. But like other diseases, corruption must be treated holistically, with both preventive and corrective measures. Otherwise, the Susilo administration's battle with corruption will be fought in vain.

The writer is a Jakarta-based columnist. He writes frequently on Indonesian affairs and has published several books.