Researchers call for comprehensive evaluation of political party oversight to prevent regional head corruption
Jakarta — A senior researcher from the Centre for Political Research at the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Lili Romli, has stated that political parties need to conduct comprehensive evaluations of their oversight and cadre development mechanisms to prevent repeat cases of corruption by regional heads.
“Political parties need comprehensive evaluation of oversight and development mechanisms so that similar incidents do not recur,” Romli said when contacted by ANTARA in Jakarta on Tuesday.
In recent developments, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has conducted arrest operations against several regional heads, including Regent Fadia Arafiq of Pekalongan and Regent Muhammad Fikri Thobari of Rejang Lebong.
Regarding these two cases, Romli noted the presence of weak oversight and control factors, ranging from regional government agencies such as inspectorates and the Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri), to the Financial and Development Supervisory Board (BPKP) and the political parties that endorsed the regional heads.
“When corruption cases and arrests of regional heads frequently occur, such incidents should not recur as they indicate weaknesses in oversight and development,” he said.
Political parties, he added, must pay attention to their cadres who become regional heads by providing political and legal education to ensure officials uphold good governance principles and integrity whilst carrying out their duties, thereby preventing regional heads from breaking the law or committing corruption.
Such education can provide regional heads with proper understanding and demonstrate to the public that political parties care about rising corruption cases in the regions.
“If not, the public could accuse political parties of neglecting their cadres who are regional heads. Essentially, parties must conduct oversight and development of their cadres who serve as regional heads,” he said.
Previously, Regent Muhammad Fikri Thobari of Rejang Lebong and seven others were brought to Jakarta on Tuesday morning for further examination following a KPK arrest operation on Monday evening (9 March) whilst attending an internal event.
The operation against the Rejang Lebong Regent is suspected to be related to the practice of disbursing project fees within the Rejang Lebong Regency Government, with investigations being conducted under closed procedures.
In addition to securing several individuals, KPK investigators also seized evidence in the form of mobile phones and a sum of money allegedly originating from contractors and related to suspected project fee disbursements.