Survey Results Reveal Public Confidence Drops But KPK Instead Claims The Opposite

KPK Building (VOI)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Political Indicators Survey Institute said the level of public trust in the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) had plummeted. Even though it has fallen to a position outside the top three, this institution actually claims the opposite.

Executive Director of Indonesian Political Indicators Burhanuddin Muhtadi said the level of public trust in the KPK was only 71.1 percent, a decrease compared to September 2020 where the figure was still at 73.5 percent.

While the first rank is occupied by the TNI and the president is in second place. Then in third place is the National Police, which is now led by National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit.

This figure is obtained from the results of a national face-to-face survey on November 2-6. The sample was taken using a multistage random sampling method and was followed by 2,020 respondents who were 17 years old or married with a margin of error of 2.9 percent and a confidence level of 95 percent.

Criticized by former employees

Former KPK spokesman Febri Diansyah then responded to the decline in the level of public trust. According to him, the condition is sad because the anti-corruption commission is under the TNI, the President, the Police, and a number of other institutions.

"It's sad... Trust in the KPK has plummeted," wrote Febri starting his thread on the Twitter account @febridiansyah quoted Monday, December 6.

This anti-corruption activist even said that the KPK would be in eighth place if the very trusting and fairly trusting sections were combined. While sitting in the first and second ranks are the TNI with 95 percent and the President with 86 percent.

Then in the next rank is Polri 80 percent; Supreme Court 79 percent; Constitutional Court 79 percent; Courts 77 percent; Prosecutor's Office 76 percent; KPK 71 percent; MPR 67 percent; DPD 66 percent; DPR RI 62 percent; and political parties 52 percent.

Seeing this condition, Febri then had a chance to talk with Burhanuddin Muhtadi. From this conversation, he said, what happened to the KPK should be an alarm.

Moreover, so far the level of public trust in the KPK has never touched a figure below 80 percent as it is now. "Earlier, we discussed this with mas @BurhanMuhtadi. What he said is true: this is an ALARM," he said.

"The level of trust in the KPK tends to be closer to political institutions such as: MPR, DPD, DPR, and Political Parties," added Febri.

Furthermore, the results of this survey are also considered to be inconsistent with the statement by the KPK leadership who claims that the institution is now better. Thus, Febri asked Firli Bahuri et al to evaluate their performance.

"The data released by @indikatorcoid this afternoon is in stark contrast to the leadership's claim that the KPK is better now... Instead of closing your eyes and feeling that everything is fine, in the momentum leading up to International Anti-Corruption Day, it would be better if the KPK leadership evaluates itself. Reflect on it," he stressed.

Febri also reminded that the KPK was not established to hold a ceremonial event full of gimmicks but to eradicate corruption in the country. This, he continued, should be remembered by Firli Bahuri et al.

"The KPK leaders who lead state institutions which according to the law are obliged to be responsible to the public should return to remembering what the expectations of the community were when the KPK was established," said Febri.

"Remember, the KPK was established to eradicate corruption. Not for a ceremonial mou only, especially if it's just a gimmick. Hopefully, it's not too late," he added.

Criticism also came from a former KPK investigator, Novel Baswedan. According to him, the decrease in the level of trust is due to the actions of the KPK leaders who often commit ethical violations.

"Public trust in the KPK has decreased, we know that the decline is the biggest indicator because the KPK leadership actually commits many violations," Novel told reporters, Monday, December 6.

What is the attitude of the KPK?

Despite criticism, the anti-corruption commission actually made the opposite claim. Acting Spokesperson for the KPK for Enforcement, Ali Fikri, said that public trust in his institution actually increased when he looked at the results of the survey as a whole.

In addition, public satisfaction is also reflected in the giving of good predicate by survey respondents to law enforcement.

"Referring to this research, if we compare the results of the survey in July 2021 with November 2021, the survey shows that the public's perception of the overall performance of corruption eradication has increased positively," Ali told reporters.

He also said this increase could not be separated from the synergy of all parties including law enforcement officers, ministries/agencies, to business actors, and all elements of society. So that in the future the KPK together with a number of related parties will continue to try to carry out their duties properly.

Meanwhile, regarding the exit of the KPK from the position of the top three public institutions most trusted by the public as in the previous year, Ali said his party would study the cause. The goal, so that they can make improvements.

"We will study the causal factors to immediately take corrective steps," he concluded.