YOGYAKARTA - Corruption, particularly political corruption, seems to find a fertile ground in Indonesia. Meanwhile, democracy in the era of reform cannot stop or at least reduce the abuse of authority of dishonest politicians. The fall of the New Order regime did not automatically bring significant improvement to 'the state of corruption’ in Indonesia.
Nazaruddin’s airings case, for example, reflects precisely the statement that political corruption is in fact 'business as usual', both at national and local levels, with two main purposes, namely the accumulation of wealth and or preservation of power. "Therefore, it is not surprising if corruption becomes a powerful tool that is reliable to satisfy the interests of many public officials and political elites," political analyst from the Institute of International Studies (IIS) UGM, Dr. Nur Rachmat Yuliantoro, M.A. (IR) said, Friday (22/7).
Nur Rachmat added that political corruption in Indonesia will continue to grow if the political competition built by political parties merely wants to preserve power. Large-scale political corruption, according to Nur Rachmat, will be more difficult to eradicate, especially in the long term. It is slightly different when compared with small-scale corruption (petty corruption) that might be 'cured' in the long term. "It is hard to see when large-scale political corruption will end. Moreover, when we believe in the idea that in Indonesia, corruption is 'a way to run politics," he said.
In Nur Rachmat’s view, the government under President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) is the same as previous administrations, namely Megawati or Gus Dur, who did not produce many breakthroughs and concrete results of the eradication of corruption. President SBY is only able to expose the rampant corruption that has been done by the regional leaders at the local level. "As if SBY just continued to clean up the trash," said the lecturer from Department of International Relations UGM.
Unfortunately, although various political and bureaucratic corruptions are rife, SBY government does not act firmly. In the view of Nur Rachmat, the current state of government is hostage. This is proven when Nazaruddin who is being sought by Corruption Eradication Commission and the Police could easily communicate and had interviews on television and Blackberry Messenger service. This condition is far different from the policy applied in China, which applies strict action against the perpetrators of corruption, for example with the death penalty.
Especially for Democrat Party, Nazaruddin’s case is the hardest blow against the institution as well as the central figure of Yudhoyono, who had set 2005 as corruption eradication year and promised in the presidential election campaign in 2009 that he would stand firm at the forefront in combating corruption. Nur Rachmat emphasized if we do not want the political system in Indonesia to decay due to chronic corruption, it takes the hard work of all elements of the nation, as well as firm and strong political will from the government to fight corruption seriously and responsibly.