Home Affairs Minister: Regional Head Integrity Key to Preventing Corruption
Home Affairs Minister (Mendagri) Muhammad Tito Karnavian has emphasised that the integrity of each individual regional head and deputy regional head is the main instrument in preventing corruption within local government environments.
He expressed concern over a number of regional heads who have had to deal with law enforcement officials due to alleged corruption offences and urged that these cases serve as a warning for regional heads and officials to avoid all corrupt behaviour.
“We really emphasise that fellow regional heads learn from existing experiences. These cases that are enforced or acted upon by law enforcement are a warning to strengthen our respective integrity,” Tito said during a press conference with Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Chairman Setyo Budiyanto at the Ministry of Home Affairs’ Main Meeting Room in Jakarta on Friday.
The Ministry of Home Affairs also affirmed its commitment to strengthening the prevention of corruption within local governments. “The steps we have taken, starting from the retreat after the regional heads and deputy regional heads were inaugurated, included briefings on corruption prevention, integrity, and national insight,” he stated.
To optimise prevention efforts, the Ministry is synergising with the KPK and the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP) through the Monitoring Center for Prevention (MCP). The Ministry is also undertaking other efforts, such as optimising the Regional Government Information System (SIPD), strengthening the BerAKHLAK values for civil servants, and conducting routine monitoring of regional heads to steer them away from corruption.
Mendagri expressed concern over corruption cases involving several regional heads. Consequently, the Ministry and the KPK are determined to strengthen prevention measures by visiting a number of locations in the regions.
“And going forward, we will visit 10 points, places, which will be attended by regional heads, deputy regional heads, and also the DPRD, the DPRD leadership, then also the regional secretaries, heads of regional apparatus, especially those in charge of public works, education, health, finance, assets, procurement of goods and services, government management, human resource management, civil servants, and public services,” said the Minister.
He explained that these prevention measures will be implemented in 10 regional clusters. These clusters include Aceh and North Sumatra; West Sumatra, Riau, and the Riau Islands; Jambi, South Sumatra, Bengkulu, Lampung, and the Bangka Belitung Islands; DKI Jakarta, West Java, and Banten; as well as Central Java and the Special Region of Yogyakarta.
Furthermore, the clusters cover East Java and Bali; West Nusa Tenggara and East Nusa Tenggara; West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, and North Kalimantan; North Sulawesi, Gorontalo, Central Sulawesi, West Sulawesi, South Sulawesi, and Southeast Sulawesi; and Maluku and North Maluku.
The Minister expressed hope that through these measures, regions can map out their respective corruption risks while also formulating governance improvement action plans complete with completion targets.