Yusril: Early Ethical Education Key to Preventing Corruption

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra has said that ethics education from an early age is key to building a generation with integrity and eradicating all forms of corruption in the future.

According to Yusril, efforts to build a state free from corruption, manipulation and bribery cannot be achieved in a short time. Therefore, moral and ethical values must be continuously instilled through education.

“I would say it may take one or two generations to instill this issue,” Yusril said during the inauguration of Cetiya Tian Shi Hua Guan Di Jing Se at Pantai Indah Kapuk (PIK), North Jakarta, on Sunday.

“We must start with education from childhood, from our schools, giving solid ethical teaching so that we can bring forth a future generation that is obedient to ethics and obeys the law not because they fear the police, the prosecutors or the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), but because they fear their own conscience,” he said.

Yusril believes moral awareness cannot be shaped solely through the constitution or various laws and regulations. In his view, the law will only work effectively if supported by a society that possesses integrity and ethical awareness.

He added that moral values taught by religion play an important role in shaping an individual’s character, enabling them to become a bulwark against corrupt behaviour.

However, in Yusril’s view, the greatest challenge in eradicating corruption lies in the weakness of ethical and moral awareness in social life.

“Building moral awareness cannot be achieved through the constitution or legislation. What must be built is a strong ethical foundation,” Yusril said.