Gov’t to Develop E-Governance System to Prevent Corruption

Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD delivers press statement at Presidential Palace, Jakarta, Monday (06/02). (Photo by: PR of Cabinet Secretariat/Agung)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo held a meeting with some ministers at Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Monday (06/02) afternoon, to evaluate the decline in Indonesia’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). The data published by Transparency International (TI) showed that Indonesia’s CPI dropped from 38 to 34 in 2022.

“We discussed this matter with respect and appreciation to what has been published by the TI. Thus, we are committed to make improvements. Soon there will be specific directives as a state policy from the President,” said Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD in a press statement at the Jakarta Presidential Palace Complex, Monday (06/02).

Mahfud explained that TI used eight survey institutions to determine Indonesia’s CPI. He also stated that the result is a perception.

“We make improvements in some sectors, such as in democratization and law and justice enforcement. However, in some other sectors, such as licensing and ease of doing business, investors’ concern on legal certainty, and some others, there is indeed a slight decrease. But if we are talking about law enforcement, corruption eradication, democracy, these sectors have improved, even though it may not be significant,” Mahfud explained.

Responding to this matter, Mahfud will make concrete actions and will accordingly report it to the President. He also stated that almost every country experienced a decrease in the CPI, among others, Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei Darussalam.

“We don’t really know the measuring instruments used in each country. For example, Timor Leste has a higher point than us. Why is that so? Because Timor Leste is reviewed only by four survey institutions, while we are reviewed by eight survey institutions, that’s how it is. But that’s okay. It’s TI’s right to make aggregations and we appreciate their efforts as a perception. That perception is not a fact, so we also fix it from a point of view of perception,” said the Coordinating Minister.

He underlined that the Government is currently preparing a concrete measure by developing an E-Governance System (Sistem Pemerintahan Berbasis Elektronik – SPBE) as an effort to nip corruption in the bud.

“So, there won’t be any corruption anymore. If somebody wants a project in Indonesia, here are the guidelines, whoever wins can take it. Well, that’s SPBE, especially for the State Budget. And from the SPBE, everything happens in the regions as well as in each ministry and institution, will be monitored on a daily basis by the Central Government,” Mahfud said. (TGH/AIT/ABD) (AY/MUR)