Political Corruption Trends Are Predicted To Continue In The DPR

Illustration of political corruption is predicted to still occur in the DPR (Inter-photo/Rivan Awal Lingga)

JAKARTA Researcher of the Indonesian Political Corruption Watch (ICW), Yassar Aulia predicts a bad trend in the form of political corruption will still occur even though the DPR for the 2024-2029 period has the majority of new faces.

He revealed, from the data obtained by ICW, at least 354 individuals out of a total of 580 members of the DPR for the 2024-2029 period have backgrounds or are affiliated with the business sector. In other words, about 61 percent of DPR members are business politicians.

"About 61 percent of DPR members are business politicians. This finding is from the results of a quick or preliminary search of 580 elected DPR members as stated in KPU Decree No. 1206 of 2024," he said in a written statement, Sunday, October 6, 2024.

According to Yassar, the problem is not far from the latent problems of the DPR, namely the 'circular' of political corruption. In terms of the system, the costs that need to be disbursed to participate in electoral contestation in Indonesia are made so expensive, both for the needs of official campaigns and for issuing dark fees' such as money politics.

"Therefore, only individuals who are able to participate in practical politics and elections have strong material resources or at least have to be close to rich investors," he said.

This phenomenon will ultimately lead to rent-seeking or rent-seeking, where expensive political costs will be 'explained' through partisan policies or even not infrequently through corruption in public budgets.

In addition, the lack of transparency in the management of political party funds and inadequate regulations that can prevent the entry of oligarchic interests through legal and illegal donations to political parties has led to piracy of democracy in Indonesia.

This, said Yassar, can be seen from how the DPR has been carrying out its legislative function. So far, the DPR has tended to be more flashy and non-participative in discussing bills that are clearly opposed by the public and ignoring a number of bills that have stalled for years even though it has been urged to be ratified immediately.

"By looking at the temporary findings of ICW regarding the background of the elected members of the DPR, unfortunately the bad trend above seems to continue. Conflict of interest between private interests that accumulates business benefits and public interests that may not directly present money becomes difficult to avoid," he concluded.