A

fter the arrest of Klaten leader Sri Hartini by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) at the end of 2016, the Central Java regency administration is now implementing open recruitment for local government officials. The bribery case involving the regent should remind us of challenges facing bureaucratic reform and regional autonomy that the nation envisioned at the start of Reformasi (Reformation) almost 20 years ago.

It was the first time the antigraft body uncovered bribery practices in job promotion within a regional government’s bureaucracy. The findings of illicit practices, including bribery, which had been reported to the State Civilian Bureaucracy Commission (KASN) involved at least 250,000 jobs nationwide, which suggest that the Klaten case is just the tip of the iceberg.

KPK investigators seized more than Rp 2 billion (US$148,000) in cash from Hartini. KASN has found that the price tags for jobs within the Klaten bureaucracy range from Rp 5 million for an administrative post in a community health center to Rp 400 million for an agency head post.

We fully support the move of KASN chairman Sofian Effendi to share the findings with the KPK, but due to the shortage of the workforce within the anticorruption agency, we do not think arresting those involved in the act of bribery alone will be effective.

The KPK, the police and state prosecutors cannot devote their energy to only investigations into fraudulent practices in the bureaucracy.

The arrest of Hartini, and perhaps one or two more local leaders committing fraud, will indeed serve as an example inspiring regional heads to think twice before demanding or accepting bribes from those who vie for certain posts in the bureaucracy.

Enforcing Law No. 5/2014 on State Civil Apparatus as legal basis of bureaucratic reform will make a difference as it stipulates that promotion and rotation should be free from conflicts of interest. The law acknowledges meritocracy as the only consideration for appointment of civil servants to certain jobs through recruitment systems, which should provide a level playing field for all.

The merit-based mechanism was created in the wake of bureaucratic reform in order to increase professional and competent civil service. Compliance with the system will prevent elected leaders from handpicking their cronies for strategic posts as a reward for their support in elections or people who dare to pay for jobs.

The merit system will also contribute to democracy as it does not take sectarian issues into consideration in the job process as recently exemplified by Bantul Regent Suharsono, who defies demands from a group of people that he replace a non-Muslim district chief.

Our quest for consolidation of democracy if bureaucratic reform fails is at stake. Corrupt leaders will generate rotten bureaucracy that will keep the public from basic services and welfare that they deserve, which democracy strives to provide.