The practice of buying and selling public office positions has emerged as a recurring phenomenon in regional governments, from provincial and municipal administrations down to the village level, as evidenced by the arrest of several regional heads. These bribery practices involve transactions worth hundreds of millions of rupiah and benefit both parties, namely unscrupulous officials and prospective village officials. This phenomenon serves as a warning sign that governance is in an unhealthy state, marked by the failure to implement a merit-based system.
A lecturer in Public Policy and Management at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Dr. Augustinus Subarsono, views the buying and selling of positions within village administrations as a warning that the state is not in good condition and requires immediate diagnosis to prevent collapse.
“Two or three years ago, this occurred only at the regency or provincial level, targeting heads of offices or agencies. However, following the 2024 regional elections, this virus has spread to the village apparatus level, the lowest tier in the governmental hierarchy,” said Dr. Subarsono on Wednesday (Jan. 28).
Politically, Dr. Subarsono explained, candidates seeking to win regional elections require substantial investment funds, including financing political parties as vehicles for power. This situation encourages candidates to recoup their investments through various means.
“Relying solely on salaries and allowances is insufficient. As a result, the buying and selling of positions becomes an easy breakthrough to cover all expenses incurred ahead of the regional elections,” the expert stated.
Furthermore, he noted that transactional practices in public office appointments reflect low levels of morality and spirituality among regional leaders. Religious values have failed to function as a moral force and a guide for life in fostering religious, civilized, honest, and honorable individuals.
“Both regional heads and subordinates who offer bribes have failed to internalize religious values in their daily lives,” he explained.
Dr. Subarsono expressed concern that this condition indicates a shift in societal values regarding what is considered acceptable. He described the normalization of money politics in the buying and selling of office seats as a grave sign that both those in power and society at large are unwell.
“Imagine if both are unwell, this is when transactional practices occur. If only one side, such transactions would not take place,” he emphasized.
Disturbingly, this situation could be prevented through strong and sincere commitment among political parties, regional head candidates, and the broader public. Political parties must establish recruitment systems for candidates for regional head positions that prioritize competence, integrity, and morality over economic strength.
Therefore, Dr. Subarsono stressed that firm and uncompromising sanctions must be imposed on regional head candidates who have been proven to have engaged in money politics ahead of elections.
“Enforcement must be processed through legal channels, not stopping at administrative sanctions but also accompanied by criminal penalties,” he asserted.
In addition, he encouraged transparency in the appointment process, from selection stages and publication of candidate profiles to public involvement in oversight, including the role of journalists.
Dr. Subarsono emphasized that the main weakness in the recruitment of village and regional officials lies in the non-uniformity of regulations and the excessive discretionary authority vested in regional heads.
Although the Village Law delegates the regulation of village apparatus appointments to regency/municipal bylaws, their implementation varies widely.
In the Pati Regency, for instance, Regional Regulation No. 11 of 2018 does not provide detailed mechanisms for appointments and is instead elaborated upon in Regent Regulation No. 35 of 2023, which adopts a centralized approach.
“This provision grants significant authority to the regent in determining approval for filling village apparatus positions, thereby opening opportunities for intervention and transactional practices even before the selection process begins,” he explained.
To close these gaps, Dr. Subarsono said the central government needs to establish national standards for recruiting village officials based on competence and integrity, supported by objective selection methods, such as computer-based testing, similar to those used in civil service recruitment.
Provincial governments are expected to conduct post-recruitment audits, whereas regency/municipal governments should establish independent selection committees that include academics and community representatives.
“On the other hand, the role of civil society organizations is crucial in safeguarding the process from beginning to end,” he added.
He hopes that, in the future, the appointment of village officials will be based on merit through administrative screening, competency tests, and assessments of job performance.
“Independent selection committees should also consider local knowledge so that appointed officials gain community support and are capable of developing villages in line with their local potential,” he concluded.
Author: Hanifah
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Jasmine Ferdian
Illustration: Jawa Pos and Freepik