Gov't Needs More Than Just Commitment to Eradicate Corruption: Observer
Jakarta. The two-year-old administration of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has so far limited its anti-corruption drive to commitment only but a much-awaited breakthrough has yet to be made, an observer said.
Renewed concern over rampant graft in the country were expressed against the backdrop of International Anti-Corruption Day on Friday (09/12).
Just days prior to the occasion, Jokowi reiterated his commitment to eradicate what he called a "big problem," during a speech at a national conference on corruption eradication in Jakarta.
His commitment must be applauded, but suppressing rampant corruption in the country needs more concrete measures, senior political observer Jusuf Suroso said.
"There has been no president yet who did not have a commitment to root out corruption. But a mere commitment is not enough. It will be meaningless if there is no clear action program," he told the media on Friday.
"The president must take the initiative. He must make a breakthrough. This is very important to speed up corruption eradication," Jusuf added.
During last week's speech, Jokowi said hundreds of members of the executive, legislative, and judiciary have been imprisoned for corruption since he took office.
Those include 122 lawmakers and councilors, 130 state officials, 25 ministers and agency heads, four ambassadors, seven state commissioners, 68 regional leaders and 14 judges, according to Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) data.
"The KPK is indeed an independent body in which the government cannot intervene. But cooperation between it and the government could be much better," Jusuf said.
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