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COMMENTARY: Waiting for Jokowi's 'mental revolution' in e-ID case
Jokowi’s “mental revolution” campaign must step in.
But entering his third year in office, Jokowi’s efforts to stamp out graft have yet to bear fruit.
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Pressing matters: President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo speaks to journalists after the appointment of former Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) commissioner Johan Budi (left) as his spokesman on Jan.12, 2016. (Courtesy of the Presidential Office/-)
T
he e-ID scandal has dragged in members of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s circle, including members of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), an active minister and two governors. The indictment also mentions the involvement of House of Representatives Speaker Setya Novanto of the Golkar Party, who has strived to build close ties with the President, in the Rp 5.9 trillion (US$442.5 million) project.
Thus, Jokowi should not wash his hands of the scandal merely because the malfeasance occurred when his predecessor Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was in power. The ramifications will affect Jokowi’s administration, sooner or later.
People are outraged by the amount of taxpayers’ money allegedly stolen, which comes to about half of the total project value.
Jokowi has publicly apologized for the impacts of the investigation by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), which has been blamed for major delays in delivering the e-IDs to residents.
Such a sympathetic response is not enough. All eyes are now on the trial of the biggest case in the KPK’s history, while people wait for the graft buster to name more suspects.
There have not been major rallies decrying the scandal, but this may indicate lost hope concerning corruption. Here, Jokowi’s “mental revolution” campaign must step in.
Jokowi climbed his way up from being a furniture seller to becoming mayor, governor and now president, winning the hearts of millions who believed in his honesty and integrity. Effective anticorruption actions were expected to be the cornerstone of Jokowi’s presidency.
