Devi Asmarani, Jakarta – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono yesterday issued a decree stepping up the fight against corruption in Indonesia.
All government members have been ordered to help him embark on the ambitious task. In a ceremony marking National Anti-Corruption Day, the President also urged the nation to take part in a massive campaign against graft.
He noted that the problems of graft in Indonesia had reached an "alarming" level. "Corruption in our country has spread to all aspects of the society, hampering our nation from prospering, and eroding our dignity and values," he told the gathering of ministers and about 100 governors and regency heads at the State Palace. "It is heartbreaking to see our nation being called a corrupt nation by other countries."
Indonesia was ranked the fifth most corrupt nation by the Berlin-based Transparency International this year, worse than last year when it was ranked sixth.
The decree listed measures to combat and prevent corruption in the next five years. All government officials, for example, must report their wealth and assets to the Anti-Corruption Commission (KPK) and cooperate in the body's investigations.
The President ordered a thorough performance-based evaluation to eliminate unofficial levies at public service offices.
Each government office must also take extra precautions to prevent financial irregularities causing a loss to the state budget and evaluate systems prone to corruption.
Officials were told to launch a modest lifestyle campaign at home and at work.
The State Minister for National Development Planning will coordinate with other ministries to draft a five-year national action plan on the eradication of corruption.
Existing laws will be amended to make the anti-graft fight more effective and government regulations will be drafted to complement the anti-corruption law.
To achieve cultural changes, the Ministry of Education will provide anti-graft lesson materials to schools. The Ministry of Communication and Information will also get the anti-corruption campaign through to the public.
The Attorney-General and police will accelerate investigations and prosecutions of corruption suspects. Law enforcers abusing their powers will face firm sanctions.
During yesterday's ceremony, the KPK signed an agreement with leaders of regional governments to begin investigations into their wealth.
Dr Yudhoyono has made eradicating corruption his top priority in his first 100 days in office since October.
The other governments after the Suharto administration had also vowed to fight corruption. But their efforts in the past five years did not amount to much, save for the conviction of a handful of high-profile corruption suspects.
The President said that eradicating graft required extraordinary measures and the support of every member of the society. "Today, I am asking all components to the nation to express our resolve in fighting corruption," he said. "I see the opportunity and the spirit with us. Let us together not waste this momentum to effect good changes in the country."
The latest decree was welcomed by corruption watchdog activists, but they said it remained to be seen how effective the implementation would be. Said noted lawyer Todung Mulya Lubis: "There have been similar decrees in the past but there was little follow-up. The important thing now is not to let politics delay the implementations."