Between the gecko and the crocodile
By JOHAN JAAFFAR
THE BOWERBIRD WRITES
INDONESIA has seen bigger corruption cases before but never this brazen.A former minister allegedly used his ministry’s funds like his own piggy bank.
He went for umrah with his family, bought skincare and perfume for his daughter and granddaughter, gave his wife “pocket money”, threw a durian feast, organised a lavish circumcision ritual for his grandson and paid for his son’s monthly car installments – all using government money. He even allegedly put on the payroll a dangdut singer for almost two years.
The extent of his audacity is mind-boggling. It is unthinkable that anyone would believe he can get away with such acts.
One prosecutor told the judge that the former agriculture minister did all that “secara terang benderang” (in broad daylight).
Syahrul Yasin Limpo, better known by his acronym SYL, is no ordinary minister.
He came from an established family in Sulawesi. Almost all his siblings are in politics. His late father Muhammad Yassin Limpo was a renowned freedom fighter during the struggle for Indonesian independence. Syahrul was the Governor of South Sulawesi during the time of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY).
President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) appointed him Agriculture Minister on Oct 29, 2019.The case of corruption, distortion and receiving gratification involving him is still going on in a Jakarta court.
The people are glued to the TV watching the alleged excesses of a minister, his family and those close to him.
The court has been calling on witnesses, many of them ministry officials, each one narrating stories about how the ministry’s funds have been misappropriated.
Only the case of Jessica Wongso who was found guilty of poisoning her friend in 2016 attracted more attention nationwide.
But like the kasus kopi sianida (case of cyanide coffee) involving Jessica, the Syahrul case, too, has all the trappings of an incredible sinetron (TV drama) replete with drama, sensation, intrigue, suspense, mystery and more.
Only this time, it involves politics, opulent lifestyles and perhaps even affection for a dangdut singer.
The Syahrul case further highlighted the complexity of fighting corruption in Indonesia.
Its Corruption Eradication Commission (Komisi Pemberantasan Korupsi or KPK) was created by the fifth president of Indonesia, Megawati Sukarnoputri, in 2003.
She was concerned that despite the people’s abhorrence towards korupsi, kolusi dan nepotisme (corruption, collusion and nepotism) that led to the downfall of Suharto in 1998, post-Reformasi has not rid the three evils.
The residues of Suharto’s Orde Baru (New Order) are still evident.
Only an independent anti-corruption body could fight corruption that has become endemic.
KPK was given a free hand – in fact, too free, for it created problems even for lawmakers and presidents.Tensions between KPK and Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat (People’s Representative Council or DPR) began to surface.In an unprecedented move, KPK under Antasari Azhar even took Aulia Pohan to court.
Pohan and the then president, SBY, are related by virtue of their children’s marriage.
It was a big blow to SBY. Antasari later paid a heavy price for that. He was charged in a murder case and was jailed 18 years.
Another tenacious graft buster feared by all is Abraham Samad.
Again, he was too ferocious in cleansing Indonesia of the scourge of corruption. He, too, had to leave.
Antasari and Abraham are not the only graft busters who faced the wrath of the establishment.
Bambang Widjojanto, the deputy chairman of KPK, was arrested by Indonesian police on January 2015.
His sin? KPK announced that the DPR-approved candidate for Chief of Police, Budi Gunawan, was a suspect for corruption just days before his scheduled inauguration.
The case of Syahrul became more intriguing when he alleged that the previous head of KPK tried to extort him.
Firli Bahuri, a former police officer appointed to lead KPK in 2019, has always been a controversial figure.
Syahrul has filed a complaint that Firli demanded bribes before his designation as a corruption suspect.
The police announced later that they had sufficient evidence to implicate Firli.
Jokowi later relieved Firli of his post.
KPK has always been a beacon of hope in a country once mired in corruption abuses.
Megawati was right in believing that KPK must be given the freedom to conduct its business. The people are behind KPK.
When DPR hesitated to fund a new headquarters for KPK, the people on the streets initiated a movement called “Koalisi Masyarakat Sibil Koin untuk KPK” (Coalition of Civil Society for Coins for KPK). The people wanted KPK to be self-financed to keep its integrity intact.
Corruption is a disease and graft-busting is not easy.
Many who fearlessly tried to eradicate corruption have faced the consequences.
KPK needed to be checked. One senior police officer who took umbrage upon KPK’s actions compared KPK to a cicak (gecko) trying to fight a buaya (crocodile).
In most cases, despite the support of the people, the gecko loses.
To add salt to injury, on Sept 17, 2019, DPR passed a Bill revising Law No 30/2002 involving the powers of KPK.
The revised Bill was passed in record time. KPK was not even consulted.
The KPK commissioners found that their authority to investigate alleged corruption and to prosecute people was substantially reduced. How will the gecko fare in the fight to bring the likes of Syahrul Yasin Limpo to justice?
The writer was formerly chairman of the Consultative and Prevention Panel of the MACC.
The views expressed here are the writer’s own.
Meanwhile in Malaysia, the National Consultative Committee on Political Funding has done its job, but its recommendations have yet to be given due attention.
Read Johan Jaafar's A much needed reform, yet... in Star Online on July 5th here.
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