KPK Doesn't Need Gimmicks In The Form Of Hymns And Mars To Fight Corruption

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK)'s hymn and march were in the spotlight. The reason is that the song composed by the wife of the Chairperson of the KPK, Firli Bahuri, Ardina Safitri, is considered a mere gimmick and is deemed unnecessary to eradicate corruption.

On Thursday, February 17th, the anti-corruption commission officially had a hymn and march created by Firli's wife. Deputy Chairperson of the KPK Alexander Marwata said this was the first time his institution had these two songs like other government agencies.

"It's been almost 20 years, 18 years since we (KPK was founded, ed) there hasn't been a march or hymn," Alexander said in a press conference broadcast on the Indonesian KPK YouTube on Thursday, February 17.

Even so, many people think that these hymns and marches are actually unnecessary for the KPK. Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) researcher Kurnia Ramadhana assessed that the existence of the two songs would also not contribute to the work of the KPK and improve the bad image that has been attached to society so far.

Not only that, this hymn and march is called one of the ceremonials that Firli Bahuri likes to do when he leads the KPK and is just a gimmick.

"It is important to note that the hymn and march that the KPK has just created will not increase Indonesia's Corruption Perception Index (GPA), contribute to the work of the KPK, and improve the KPK's bad image in the eyes of the public," Kurnia said in a written statement quoted on Friday, 18 February.

"It's practically just a ceremonial activity and a gimmick," added the anti-corruption activist.

Similarly, researcher from the Center for Anti-Corruption Studies (PUKAT) of the Faculty of Law, Gadjah Mada University (UGM), Zaenur Rohman also agrees that the KPK hymn and march created by Ardina is actually a gimmick that doesn't need to be done.

"(This, ed) is just a gimmick from the chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission which does not contribute much to the eradication of corruption, instead it is laughed at, in fact many people respond to it," said Zaenur to reporters.

Moreover, the election of Ardina, Firli's wife, as the creator of the KPK hymn and march is also a question of its own.

"Is the hymn making a fair process, for example through an election with a competition that allows other parties to launch their best work and then the KPK will choose it," he said.

If this is not done, then what happens is that the KPK fails to mitigate the risk of a conflict of interest. Zaenur said that although the hymns and marches were given free of charge, they became songs that had to be sung by the anti-corruption commission employees.

So, it is not impossible that in the future there will be personalization of Firli, considering that it was his wife who composed the two songs.

"We have seen that the public's response on social media has a negative tone. This creation was made by the wife of the Chairperson of the KPK as if there was an effort to personalize the KPK to become the dominant image of the Chairperson of the KPK," he said.

"If you just make a hymn, there's no problem. But don't make the wife of the Chairperson of the KPK," added Zaenur.

As previously reported, the KPK released a hymn and march created by Ardina Safitri on Thursday, February 17 yesterday. The wife of the Chairperson of the KPK, Firli Bahuri, admitted that she was proud to make marches and hymns for the institution.

"Pride for a citizen is to be able to serve and contribute, no matter how small, no matter how simple, to participate in advancing and prospering the nation, one of which is through eradicating corruption," said Dina in a written statement from the KPK, Thursday, February 17.

Dina explained that the KPK hymn and march she created was full of meaning and message. One of them, invites KPK personnel to continue to serve to realize a corruption-free Indonesia.

Meanwhile, Firli Bahuri believes that the hymn and march created by his wife can make KPK employees proud when carrying out their duties. The song is also believed to make the employees love the country more.

"The lyrics in this song are expected to be an inspiration for all KPK personnel in their work and strengthen our love for the Indonesian nation," he said.