Letter: Appeals to new KPK leaders

When I was listening to a midnight radio program, I was surprised that several listeners expressed their doubts about the courage of the Corruption Eradication Commission’s (KPK) new leaders to uncover and take action against those allegedly involved in major corruption cases.

A few days ago at Bogor railway station I bumped into three students, who were waiting for the electric train (KRL) for Jakarta, the train was delayed for about an hour.

We chatted about various matters, including our current failure to improve the welfare of the people. One of us, however, expressed optimism in the leadership in KPK. He said chairman Abraham Samad and KPK commissioner Bambang Widjojanto were known as courageous anticorruption activists before they were elected as KPK leaders.

As a sexagenarian, I felt the three young idealists were dreaming or seeking a strong, decisive, fearless leader as their idol. They were so disappointed in the performance and integrity of the incumbents of state institutions, especially those who were convicted of corruption.

Most Indonesians are convinced that all high caliber corruption could be traceable if law enforcement officials had the bravery and persistence to investigate such practices. It is certain that the public prefers a leader who is a man of action to a leader who talks too much but does nothing. Naturally, the public greeted warmly the statement of the new KPK chief a few days prior to Christmas 2011.

It was interesting when Abraham reiterated his pledge that he would step down from his position if he failed to prosecute one high-profile graft case after one year in office. The people especially at the grassroots level are waiting for the implementation of his statement.

Nevertheless, allow me to remind the KPK leaders and the other high-ranking law enforcement officials that deeds are better than promises.

To the best of my knowledge, in Japan or Korea or other rich countries, high-ranking officials relinquish their positions on account of a mere slip of the tongue in making a statement, moreover if they copped out on their promises they would automatically be deemed as poor officials.

A listener to a private radio station was of the opinion that the KPK leaders should avoid making comments on the conduct of the hedonists or the attitude of certain elite figures who seem obsessed with flaunting their wealth.

Let them impress others with their wealth and let them enjoy their habit of showing off their wealth amid terrible poverty and severe hardship. In these cases, the KPK leaders should launch a silent investigation and following interrogation and arrests (where the KPK has enough evidence) prove that they gained their wealth by corruption, collusion and nepotism (KKN). The people would certainly appreciate such strict action; this would be an effective deterrence to wrongdoing.

May God be with all KPK officials in eradicating corruption and graft.
Hasan Basri Muchtar
Jakarta