Managing conflicts of interest is key to a bureaucracy with integrity, says PANRB Ministry

Deputy for Bureaucratic Reform, Apparatus Accountability and Supervision at the Ministry of Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform (PANRB), Erwan Agus Purwanto, stated that corruption can be caused by various factors, one of which is conflict of interest. “By managing conflicts of interest effectively, we can reduce the risk of corruption and ensure that every decision and action taken by government officials truly serves the public interest,” he said in a statement in Jakarta on Wednesday. Erwan explained that, in line with President Prabowo’s directives, all government agencies must commit to combating the misappropriation of public funds through strategic measures, including creating a transparent governance system. The management of conflicts of interest is regulated in PANRB Ministerial Regulation No. 17/2024, which officially came into effect on 8 November 2024. This regulation replaces and refines the previous Ministerial Regulation No. 37/2012, which was deemed no longer suitable for current developments and needs. Erwan outlined several sources of conflicts of interest, including business relationships, family and kinship ties, affiliations, outside employment, concurrent positions, the use of influence from a previous post, and the acceptance of gifts or gratuities. “PermenPANRB No. 17/2024 provides an explanation on how to manage conflicts of interest when they occur. It is a natural human condition, but if left unmanaged, it can lead to problems that foster practices of corruption, collusion, and nepotism due to family or friendship ties,” he said. The Gadjah Mada University professor further explained that any official or employee facing a conflict of interest when making a decision is required to halt the process and declare the conflict to their superior. “Civil servants must record their interests and declare a conflict of interest immediately upon becoming aware of an actual conflict, before making a decision or taking action in the execution of their duties. The principle is that it is better to declare early than late, so that the agency can determine appropriate handling steps, such as reassignment, replacement of the decision-maker, or other forms of mitigation,” he stated. The PANRB Ministry is working with the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) as a strategic partner in preventing corruption through conflict of interest management. The two institutions have complementary roles, with the PANRB Ministry focusing on policy formulation and governance strengthening, while the KPK reinforces corruption prevention and integrity building. “This collaboration ensures that conflict of interest management not only has a strong policy foundation but is also implemented and evaluated sustainably,” he said. Erwan expressed his hope that civil servants would strengthen their commitment to realising a professional, clean, and public service-oriented bureaucracy, stressing that integrity is the main key. “I believe Indonesia needs a generation that is not only intelligent and innovative but also possesses strong character. Ultimately, a nation’s progress is determined not only by technology, resources, or good policies, but also by the integrity of the people who run them,” he concluded.