Remarks of President of the Republic of Indonesia at the Peak Event of the 2023 International Anti-Corruption Day at Istora Senayan Stadium, Gelora Bung Karno Sports Complex, Special Capital Region of Jakarta, December 12, 2023

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.

Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

Good morning,

May peace be upon us all,

Om swastiastu,

Namo Buddhaya,

Greetings of virtue.

Distinguished leaders of state institutions,

Distinguished leaders of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and Chair and members of the KPK Supervisory Board,

Distinguished ministers of the Indonesia Onward Cabinet, heads of non-ministerial Government institutions,

Distinguished Attorney General, Chief of the Indonesian National Police, Commander of the Indonesian National Defense Forces, governors, regents, and mayors, anti-corruption activists,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Corruption is an extraordinary crime that hinders development, can damage the national economy, and can make the people suffer. We are aware that in our country between the period of 2004 and 2022, there have been so many [cases of corruption] and I think too many of our officials have been arrested and imprisoned. No other countries arrest and imprison their officials as many as our country does. Do not applaud it.

I noted that from 2004 to 2022, among those imprisoned due to corruption, 344 were leaders and members of the House of Representatives (DPR) and Regional House of Representatives (DPRD), including Speaker of the DPR and Speaker of the DPRD; 38 were ministers and heads of institutions; 24 were governors, 162 were regents and mayors; 31 were judges, including constitutional judges; 8 were commissioners, including commissioners of the General Elections Commission (KPU), Indonesia Competition Commission (KPPU), and Judicial Commission; 415 were from the private sector, and 363 were bureaucrats. Too many, too many.

Once again, find another country that imprisons its officials as many as Indonesia does.

With so many people/officials imprisoned, can corruption be stopped? Be reduced? Apparently, we still find many cases of corruption, meaning that we need to carry out a thorough evaluation. I agree with what Chair of the KPK said; education, prevention, enforcement. Yes, but there is something that must be thoroughly evaluated.

Once again, does corruption stop? Does a sentence of imprisonment create a deterrent? Apparently not because corruption has become more advanced, more complex. It can even be committed across countries in multiple jurisdictions and using the most sophisticated technology.

Therefore, we need joint efforts that are more systemic, that are more massive, that utilize the most up-to-date technology to prevent the crime of corruption. We need to strengthen the prevention system, including improving the quality of our law enforcement human resources, goods and service procurement system, licensing system, internal monitoring system, and so on.

Indeed, we have made many platforms. E-catalog, for example. Back then, there were only 50,000 goods listed on e-catalog. This morning I asked Head of the Government Procurement Agency (LKPP) to report to me. Today, there are 7.5 million goods listed on the e-catalog. The difference is stark.

Furthermore, we have online single submission (OSS) to prevent businesspeople from meeting with officials. This is very helpful. One map policy, I suppose, is not yet completed, but it is 60-70 percent completed and we aim to complete it in 2024. It will be very helpful to prevent people from committing corruption. Online tax I suppose is also great. Electronic certificates are good too. There should be a good application platform for everything in order to prevent corruption.

The Chair also mentioned… the Chair mentioned about the Regional Government Information System (SIPD). This is also [for] prevention. We also have the National Logistics System (Silognas). Do compare the situations before and after the improvement. [We have] Mineral and Coal Information System (Simbara) for coal, and later it will be used for nickel, bauxite, and copper. I suppose it will also enable us to monitor how much of our natural resources have been exploited, exported, and so on.

Finally, strengthening regulations at the level of law is needed. What? In my opinion, it is important to immediately finalize the Criminal Asset Confiscation Bill as it is a mechanism to recover state losses and bring deterrent effects. I hope the Government and the DPR can immediately deliberate and finalize the Criminal Asset Confiscation Bill. Restrictions on Currency Transaction Bill that promotes the use of bank transfer must also be finalized. Once the bill is passed, everything will be more transparent, accountable, and better.

And on this International Anti-Corruption Day, I invite you all to join hands to prevent the crime of corruption and bring deterrent effects to officials who commit corruption.

That concludes my statement on this auspicious occasion.

I thank you.

Wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

(DH/LW)