Jokowi Gets 1 Truck Of Oranges, KPK Reminds People Don't Just Give Goods To State Administrators

President Jokowi receives 3 tons of oranges as gifts from residents of Karo, North Sumatra (PHOTO VIA ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) reminded the public not to give gratification in any form to officials. This warning is carried out as a form of preventing the occurrence of corrupt practices.

This was conveyed in response to the giving of one truckload of oranges by residents of Karo, North Sumatra, to President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) on Monday, December 6.

"We urge the public not to give gratuities in any form to civil servants/state administrators to obtain services from the government", KPK Spokesperson for Prevention, Ipi Maryati, told reporters on Wednesday, December 8.

Ipi said that serving the community has become the duty and responsibility of officials. So, they don't have to give anything in return.

Meanwhile, Ipi said that President Jokowi was asked to follow up on it by KPK Regulation Number 2 of 2019 concerning Gratification Reporting.

"If the object of gratification is in the form of food and or drink that is easily damaged, then the object of gratification can be refused to be returned to the giver, or if it cannot be rejected, it can be distributed as social assistance", she said.

The KPK also asked President Jokowi to follow up on the receipt of the oranges through a report. This is a form of transparency.

"As a form of transparency, reports of rejection or distribution of social assistance can then be submitted to the KPK", said Ipi.

As previously reported, President Joko Widodo has received gifts in the form of three tons of oranges from Setia Sembiring and representatives of residents of Liang Melas Datas, Karo Regency, North Sumatra.

Setia and five of his colleagues came directly to meet President Jokowi and hoped to get President Jokowi's attention regarding the damaged road conditions in their area. According to him, the damaged road also affected residents in six villages and three hamlets in Liang Melas Datas.

After receiving the oranges brought by the resident representatives, President Jokowi provided cash assistance to the farmers of Liang Melas Datas. Not only that, but he also said he planned to visit the village when the road was finished.