W

aiting journalists in the Corruption Eradication Commission shouted “We are with you Nazaruddin, don’t be afraid to fight corruption.”

Is this a case of calling on the allegedly corrupt to “fight corruption”? I assume that what was intended was a plea to Nazaruddin to not be afraid to repeat his allegations about others that he knows to be corrupt. Here, here.

What is clear is that conviction of those guilty of corruption seems not to be achieving any change in widespread corruption. To the many the risks of being caught and convicted are outweighed by the potential benefits. Until RI enacts laws which require far greater transparency and accountability, corruption will never decrease.

While “successful” corruptors are able to bribe their way through the judiciary and police and obtain light sentences, they will not be discouraged from repeat performances or being copied by others.

Right now the next generation of corrupt politicians and senior bureaucrats are undertaking their apprenticeship and learning how to embezzle the people’s money without getting caught. They have not been discouraged by the steady stream of the corrupt heading to jail.

But with so many lawmakers believed to be corrupt, we can’t expect them to enact legal reform to increase accountability and transparency to prevent ongoing corruption in government.

The Nazaruddin case promises to keep us entertained for a few more months, but unless there is political leadership to deal more effectively in addressing corruption, the Nazaruddin case will be just another act in the ongoing circus of corruption in Indonesia.

Nairdah
Sydney