IO – Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Chairman Firli Bahuri has stated every political party must embrace an honest attitude and uplift members’ behavior to achieve an anti-corruption culture. The cadre education system should also instills anti-corruption values, said Firli in a briefng of PDI-P National Cadre Education, Jakarta, Tuesday (11/16/2021).
Firli emphasized the importance of building an anti-corruption culture, since corruption has been a common enemy for the Indonesian people. Other common enemies are crimes such as terrorism and drugs, as well as natural and non-natural disasters such as COVID-19. “Let’s create togetherness so that we can get through this crisis,” said Firli.
Similarly, Secretary-General of PDI-P (the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle) Hasto Kristiyanto affirmed his commitment to building an anti-corruption culture within his cadres by taking preventive measures.
Hasto said that his party has made several precautionary efforts to establish an anti-corruption culture. The first is through psychological tests and mandatory Party schooling for every cadre. “Because a psychological test could also measure the aspect of integrity. Party Schools can build awareness, so that power can be used accordingly, without becoming involved in corruption,” said Hasto.
Next would be strengthening a party system. Party regulations stipulate strict sanctions for all party leaders or structural elements who abuse their
power. Hasto said that PDI-P has explicative rules on how to become
a legislative member, regional head, deputy regional head, legislative leader and party leader. “Thus, various forms of corruption within the party could be confronted, such as by eliminating the “one man, one vote and one value” mechanism in the election of party leaders and replacing it with a merit system, including musyawarah (deliberation). That way, costs can be reduced,” said Hasto.
Third, the party leaders in the central committee consistently remind cadres not to abuse their power. “The winning strategy of gotong royong (communal work) is also built as an effort to prevent corruption, by reducing the cost of elections for individuals,” said Hasto.
However, it is undeniable that there are cadres who turn corrupt and are arrested. “Despite repeated warnings, these problems persist. Discipline and awareness to avoid corruption is what the Party strives to build,” said Hasto. (des)