Ruing corruption
Ruing corruption
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's remark that certain
members of the business community and the bureaucracy were
resisting his anticorruption drive seemed like a cry for help, a
warning and an alibi at the same time.
His remark before members of the Indonesian Chamber of
Commerce and Industry (Kadin) was quite poignant, noting that
"businesses and (personal) interests had been severely affected
by the move (to combat corruption)".
It was a revelation to the nation and confirmed suspicions
that while anticorruption and good governance are popular terms,
"shortcuts" are still an accepted mode of doing business.
Some, especially business practitioners, might argue
otherwise. But the question then becomes which comes first, the
chicken or the egg?
Corruption might not occur if business interests were not
perpetually seeking unfair comparative advantages by using gobs
of cash as enticements. On the other hand, kickbacks would also
cease if bureaucrats -- at all levels -- stopped seeking to make
a quick buck.
The answer is then neither the chicken nor the egg, but simple
greed. It is an ominous sign, either way.
The President's statement could be interpreted either as a
ceremonial moral call or a confession that he is not winning,
perhaps even losing, the war on corruption.
In essence, Susilo was saying that despite his best efforts he
is being undermined from within the government. His very public
admission of there being traitors in our midst means that this
country has a long and rocky path to tread before we can even
begin changing the culture of corruption.
Nevertheless, while still lacking "trophies", it must be
conceded that Susilo himself, unlike the leaders of previous
administrations, is yet to show any inclination toward
consolidating a network that exploits his privileged position.
Hence public support is imperative to his efforts, which are
often under appreciated. Continued public faith is the
President's strongest weapon against an embedded culture of
profiteering. It is time for us to renew our confidence in this
difficult endeavor.
Making the statement at the opening of a Kadin congress was
also a strategic move.
It has been said that reformasi not only democratized the
political system, but also democratized corruption with local
players being as avaricious as their counterparts in Jakarta.
Speaking before delegates representing regional and branch
levels of Kadin, it was as if the President was saying "I know
who you are and what you're doing".
We can, hopefully, expect tougher measures from Susilo should
"resistance" persist in the future.
Finally -- and we dearly hope this is not the case -- Susilo's
remarks could also be interpreted as the first excuse for a
failing campaign.
Anticorruption was one of the most prominent platforms for
which Susilo was elected. Failure to mitigate the practice would
mark the failure of his presidency.
Despite the obstacles presented before him, Susilo cannot
simply blame the bureaucracy, the "system" or irresponsible
individuals for failing to correct a structural problem.
These are obstacles that he was fully aware of before he
assumed the presidency. Susilo is the President. He has the power
to act accordingly!
Grumbling about the prevailing system only brings comparisons
with his predecessor, who always blamed everyone but herself --
past legacies, the bureaucracy, errant officials, the system --
for her failure to deliver good governance.
We are confident that the President has the leadership
qualities and political will not to let certain predicaments
weaken his determination to combat corruption.
That is a war in which he would have the whole nation's
support.