Home Affairs Deputy Minister: Regional Anti-Corruption Efforts Must Be Comprehensive
Deputy Home Affairs Minister Bima Arya Sugiarto has stated that tackling corruption among regional heads requires a holistic approach beyond bureaucratic oversight. He highlighted the need for systemic reforms covering the political system, electoral processes, and law enforcement integrity.
Bima explained that corruption at the regional level is a complex issue involving many aspects. Therefore, its handling must be comprehensive, from upstream to downstream, including the general election system which serves as the entry point for regional heads.
"The reforms must be comprehensive. There is the political system, the electoral system, and law enforcement, not just the executive bureaucracy," Bima Arya said in his statement on Friday (3/7).
He explained that the government has already implemented supervisory, prevention, and guidance mechanisms from the moment a regional head takes office. This process involves various lines, from the police and prosecutors to the internal inspectorate of regional governments.
Several prevention instruments have also been applied, such as the corruption prevention coordination programme with the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK). In addition, there is a Monitoring Centre for Prevention system which provides an assessment of corruption prevention efforts in each region.
Despite these existing instruments, Bima believes there is still significant room for improvement. One of the main focuses is strengthening the independence of the Government Internal Supervisory Apparatus, particularly regional inspectorates, so they are not subject to intervention and can work optimally.
Beyond internal strengthening, Bima also emphasised the importance of integrity within law enforcement agencies as part of the anti-corruption ecosystem. He hopes that all components, both the political system and oversight bodies, can synergise to create clean governance.
"I think everything is included, including reforms within the law enforcement agencies themselves. There is also the internal government supervisory apparatus system, the inspectorate, which must be more independent," he concluded.