Raising Regional Heads' Financial Benefits Won't Automatically Prevent Corruption: Expert

A public policy expert from Andalas University in West Sumatra, Aidinil Zetra, has stated that the proposal to increase the financial benefits for regional heads will not automatically prevent or resolve the problem of corruption. “If we look at the anatomy of corruption in Indonesia, it is not entirely caused by a lack of income,” the analyst said in Padang on Thursday. He argued that wealthy regional heads with substantial incomes might actually have greater potential and opportunity to engage in corrupt practices. Therefore, if the rationale behind raising their financial benefits is to prevent graft, he advised the central government to examine the root causes of corruption in the country more carefully. The lecturer from the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences at UNAND believes that corrupt, collusive, and nepotistic practices can only be addressed through a comprehensive evaluation, ranging from impartial law enforcement to improved governance. “If we enforce the law firmly and improve governance, I think we can avoid opportunities for corruption,” he said optimistically. He also suggested that the mechanism for electing regional heads must be reformed, as candidates currently incur significant costs during political contests. He assessed that the high political expenses during campaigns potentially create greater opportunities for regional heads to engage in corruption once in office. “Therefore, the regional elections must also be evaluated thoroughly,” he advised. Separately, the Chairman of the Budget Committee of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Said Abdullah, responded to the proposal to increase regional heads’ financial benefits as a means of preventing corruption. He considered the proposal non-urgent, emphasising that maintaining stable, healthy, and sustainable fiscal conditions should take precedence over increasing the financial benefits of regional heads.