KPK Reminds Regional Heads To Stay Away From Conflicts Of Interest, Don't Follow Bekasi Mayor Rahmat Effendi

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) reminds regional heads to have integrity. They are also asked to stay away from conflicts of interest and abuse of authority in carrying out their work.

This was conveyed after the KPK made arrests and named the inactive Bekasi Mayor Rahmat Effendi or Kang Pepen as a suspect. He is suspected of receiving bribes related to the procurement of goods and services as well as the auction of positions in the Bekasi City Government.

"Reminding regional heads to always avoid potential conflicts of interest and abuse of authority in the process of procurement of goods and services as well as the auction of positions," said Acting KPK Spokesperson for Prevention Ipi Maryati to reporters, Monday, December 9.

This warning, continued Ipi, was given because the position of the regional head is risky with a conflict of interest. He also revealed from the results of a study conducted by the KPK, conflicts of interest are often the cause of corrupt practices in the country.

The forms of conflicts of interest that often occur include receiving gratuities for a decision or position, the process of granting permits that contain elements of injustice or violating the law, as well as the process of appointing and transferring employees, to determining partners or providers of goods and services.

"Where state administrators who have power and authority based on laws and regulations have personal interests so that they can affect the quality and performance that should be," he said.

Not only asking regional heads to have integrity, but the KPK also asked for system improvements to be made. "Including personal and institutional culture," said Ipi.

"KPK in its efforts to improve the system has also encouraged the strengthening of good local government governance through the Monitoring Center for Prevention (MCP). Two of the eight focus areas for strengthening governance are the management of the state civil apparatus (ASN) and the procurement of government goods and services," he added.

As previously reported, the KPK has named Rahmat Effendi or Pepen along with eight other people as suspects in the alleged bribery in the procurement of goods and services as well as the auction of positions in the Bekasi City Government.

Pepen is suspected of receiving billions of rupiah as a commitment fee from the private sector whose land was acquired for a project belonging to the Bekasi City Government and received compensation. However, he called the money a mosque donation code.

In addition to the bribes above, the anti-corruption commission also revealed that Pepen received money related to project management and contract labor at the Bekasi City Government in the amount of Rp. 30 million. The money was given by the Director of PT MAM Energindo, Ali Amril, and received by the Secretary of the Investment Office and PTSP Bekasi City, M Bunyamin.

Later, he also received some money from employees at the Bekasi City Government in return for their position. However, it did not specify how much money the Golkar Party politician received.

However, the money found from the gifts given by the employees was only Rp600 million left when the silent operation was carried out. Allegedly, the money already exists which was used in part to meet its operational needs.