KPK Deputy Chairman Emphasises that Integrity Begins in the Classroom
Surabaya - The Deputy Chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), Ibnu Basuki Widodo, emphasised that integrity must begin in the classroom through the strategic role of higher education institutions in building clean governance and preventing corrupt practices from an early stage.
“Corruption is a rot that shakes the system, not only harming the state but also eroding public trust,” said Ibnu during the 42nd Anniversary General Lecture at Universitas Muhammadiyah Surabaya (Umsura) in Surabaya, East Java, on Friday.
He stressed that corruption is not merely a legal violation but a form of power abuse that damages morals, systems, and the nation’s future.
In simple terms, according to him, corruption is understood as actions to enrich oneself or others unlawfully, resulting in financial losses to the state.
KPK data shows that from 2004 to 2025, there have been 1,951 perpetrators of corruption crimes from various professional backgrounds.
He noted that corrupt practices occur in various forms, from grand corruption and petty corruption to political corruption. This phenomenon indicates that corruption remains a serious cross-sectoral issue.
Ibnu also explained the causes of corruption in the fraud hexagon theory, such as pressure, opportunities due to weak systems, rationalisation, arrogance of power, and collusion.
“When the system is weak and integrity collapses, corruption becomes something considered normal,” he stated during the Corruption Prevention Forum and Clean Governance event.
Furthermore, he emphasised that the impacts of corruption are very broad. Based on the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), corruption can damage democracy, increase criminality, and worsen poverty and unemployment.
He also cited the example of the electronic ID card (e-KTP) project, which caused significant losses to the state. According to him, those funds should have been used for infrastructure development, education, and energy that directly impact public welfare.
“Corruption is not just numbers, but the loss of opportunities for the people to live better,” he asserted.
Indonesia’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) score stands at 34 out of 100, ranking 109th out of 180 countries. This figure shows that efforts to eradicate corruption still face major challenges.
He stated that the KPK implements three main strategies: education to build values (don’t want to corrupt), prevention through system improvements (can’t corrupt), and enforcement for deterrence (dare not corrupt).
He highlighted ongoing integrity violations in the education environment, such as cheating, plagiarism, and gratification.
Data indicates that 58 percent of students have cheated, 43 percent of campuses still find plagiarism by lecturers, and 30 percent of teachers or lecturers consider giving gifts as normal.
“If the academic space loses integrity, then the nation’s future loses its foundation,” he said.
He affirmed that higher education institutions need to implement anti-corruption values through the Tridharma of Higher Education, encompassing education, research, and community service.
Ibnu also warned of the dangers of gratification, which is often seen as normal but is a broad form of giving that can be an entry point to corruption.
Meanwhile, Umsura Rector Prof Dr Mundakir, S.Kep, M.Kes, emphasised that corruption prevention must start from instilling values, not just enforcement.
“It was only in 1996–1997 that Umsura began to integrate at the Sutorejo campus as it is now. This journey was not easy, but it became a strong foundation for developing values and campus governance,” he said.
He added that the forum is part of ongoing efforts, including cooperation with the KPK in bringing anti-corruption education to the campus environment.