KPK's Efforts To Prevent Corruption In The Political Sector Depend On The Attitude Of The Party And The Existing System

KPK Building/Photo: Antara

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has invited 20 political parties participating in the general election to participate in the Quality Smart Politics program. This event is considered to be one of the steps to prevent corruption in the political sector.

Located at the Red and White Building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta on Wednesday, May 18, the elites of political parties gathered. They received three materials whose purpose was to prevent corruption.

"First, anti-corruption supplies for the administrators of each political party, both central and regional," said Ipi in a written statement, Wednesday, May 18.

The first briefing, continued Ipi, will take place from May to August 2022. The event will be held online and face-to-face at the KPK Anti-Corruption Education Center Building.

Furthermore, the KPK will provide independent anti-corruption lessons in the political sector electronically to political party politicians. This second program will be followed by all party administrators through the https://aclc.kpk.go.id website.

Next, the anti-corruption commission invites politicians to echo the anti-corruption movement in politics. The KPK believes that this can eliminate corrupt attitudes within political parties.

"This activity will be carried out independently by each political party as a form of follow-up and commitment of political parties in efforts to eradicate corruption," said Ipi.

In addition, during this event, the Chairman of the KPK, Firli, mentioned that there should be no more buying and selling of recommendation letters to run as a candidate in the 2024 General Election (Pemilu).

The parties invited to this prevention activity were the PDI-P, Gerindra Party, Golkar Party, NasDem Party, National Mandate Party (PAN), Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), National Awakening Party (PKB), and the Democratic Party.

Next, there were also representatives from the Beringin Karya (Berkarya) Party, the Crescent Star Party (PBB), the Indonesian Change Movement Party (Garuda), the People's Conscience Party (Hanura), the Indonesian Justice and Unity Party (PKP Indonesia), the Indonesian Unity Party (PKP) and the Indonesian Unity Party (PKP). Perindo), and the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI).

Furthermore, the KPK also invited the Aceh Party (PA), the Aceh Regional Party (PD Aceh), the Aceh Nanggroe Party (PNA), and the Aceh People's Independent Voice Party (SIRA).

"We do not want corruption in the process of organizing this election. There should be no buying and selling of recommendation letters, whether recommendations for candidates for regional heads, regents, mayors, governors, should not exist," he said at the event.

Political parties welcome

The chairman of the PDI-P DPP Djarot Saiful Hidayat who was met after the event stated that his party certainly welcomed the program that was currently running. However, he asked for this kind of prevention efforts to be sustainable.

Thus, the results obtained will be maximized, such as reducing the number of corruption cases so that the number of prosecutions decreases.

"In any case, the efforts to conduct anti-corruption and prevention education must be appreciated. If this is good, God willing, corruption can be suppressed and the prosecution will be reduced," said Djarot to reporters.

Djarot agrees that political parties also have a role to play in preventing corrupt practices. So, his party is now trying to provide anti-corruption education to its cadres.

The goal is that the anti-corruption character within the party can be realized. "So I reject that corruption has become a culture. Instead, we fight to really instill that character so that we have a clean culture, an anti-corruption culture," he said.

A good welcome was also delivered by the General Chairperson of the PKB, Muhaimin Iskandar or Cak Imin. He said the prevention efforts carried out by the KPK were an important foundation for political parties.

Moreover, recently, many parties justify money politics or money politics to get support. So, it is hoped that after the Smart Politics with Integrity program is completed, all parties will completely stay away from corrupt practices.

"Yes, the main thing is actually money politics, which Bawaslu has anticipated. And indeed why political purity is damaged, competition is chaotic, because of money politics," said Cak Imin.

"Therefore, let's both avoid money politics and the people. Don't vote because of money, choose really because of conscience, desire, ideals, similarities, hopes, at least closeness to the candidate," he added.

Is it effective?

Executive Director of the Indonesia Political Review (IPR), Ujang Komarudin, said that at least the KPK had tried to prevent it, which was their duty. Not only that, this Qualified Smart Politics activity is considered to be useful.

"At least to remind the top officials, administrators and party cadres not to commit acts of corruption," said Ujang when contacted by VOI.

However, the last line of defense to implement or not the briefing that has been conveyed by the KPK is in the internal hands of political parties. Even if in the future there are still corrupt political parties, it means that they did not hear the warning from the anti-corruption commission.

"It's preventive in nature. It's a reminder. There will still be many people from parties who are corrupt, it means that the parties' reminders from the KPK have not been heard," he said.

So, apart from having to carry out preventive activities like this, the KPK is also encouraged to improve the existing system.

"Our system has also been damaged. So fix the system and the people," he concluded.