Nivell Rayda – The apparent disdain Indonesians feel for their lawmakers was highlighted again on Wednesday when a study by Transparency International was released showing that the country's legislatures are seen as its most corrupt institutions.
The antigraft watchdog's 2009 Global Corruption Barometer was conducted in 69 countries worldwide and surveyed more than 73,000 respondents. In Indonesia, 500 people surveyed in Jakarta and Surabaya concluded that their legislatures leave much to be desired, with the judiciary also judged a poor lot.
Worldwide, political parties are perceived to be the most corrupt institutions, the study found, followed by civil servants, lawmakers and the private sector.
Indonesians gave their lawmakers a grade of 4.4, with 5 being very corrupt. Next on the list was the judiciary with a 4.1 rating.
The rating seems to reflect other actions, including the arrests of 12 members of the House of Representatives by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), eight of whom have already been convicted by the Anti-Corruption Court. The court has also brought many provincial and district legislative councilors to trial for extortion, abuse of power and bribery.
Gayus Lumbuun, deputy chairman of the House honors committee and PDI-P lawmaker, said the survey was no surprise. "I don't reject the findings of the survey. Even I view the House as one of the institutions that deserves to be put on the list. I hope that political parties show responsibility... by taking action against their corrupt members."
Teten Masduki, the secretary general of Transparency International Indonesia, said "the House must show it is serious about fighting corruption by passing the Anti-Corruption Court bill."
The current Anti-Corruption Court, hailed as a key weapon in the battle against corruption, has its legal basis in a 2002 law that created the KPK. The Constitutional Court has ruled that mechanism unconstitutional and ordered that a new law be drawn up before Dec. 19 if the court is to continue. So far, the bill is languishing in the House.
"Politicians are not serving and fighting for the public's best interests but only for their own personal and collective gain," said Rocky Gersung, a political analyst at the University of Indonesia.
"Legislative candidates are not chosen based on competence and integrity but rather on loyalty to the party and the willingness to protect the interests of those who have made contributions and donations to their respective parties."