High Political Costs, Many Regional Heads Entangled in Corruption Cases

Based on data from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) [https://databoks.katadata.co.id/tags/kpk], 176 regional officials were implicated in corruption cases between 2004 and 2022. This includes 22 governors and 154 mayors/regents and their deputies who also had dealings with the KPK [https://databoks.katadata.co.id/datapublish/2022/08/15/semakin-banyak-walikota-dan-bupati-yang-korupsi-pada-2021].

This number does not include members of the Regional People's Representative Council (DPRD). 310 elected officials were also implicated in corruption during the same period. The high number of regional officials entangled with the KPK is partly due to the high cost of politics.

KPK Deputy Chair Ghufron stated that the tens to hundreds of billions of rupiah spent by regional head candidates turn the political process into a business transaction. According to a survey by the KPK and the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), mayoral/regency head candidates require Rp20-30 billion to run, while gubernatorial candidates need Rp100 billion.

This is unreasonable, as their salaries over a five-year term as regional heads are not commensurate with election expenses.

“This causes the political process, which should be conducted with conscience, to become a business transaction,” said Ghufron, as reported by Kompas.com on Sunday (18/9/2022).

Therefore, the KPK, together with the Ministry of Home Affairs, is pushing for an increase in political party financial assistance, currently at Rp1,000 per valid national vote and Rp1,200-Rp1,500 per valid regional vote, to Rp3,000 per valid vote for the DPR RI.

However, increasing financial assistance for political parties will not necessarily reduce corruption cases in Indonesia. Heavier criminal penalties for corruption are needed to deter perpetrators. Instead, perpetrators of corruption often receive reduced sentences.

Previously, Papua Governor Lukas Enembe [https://databoks.katadata.co.id/datapublish/2022/09/15/dana-otsus-dan-bantuan-infrastruktur-untuk-papua-tembus-rp11-triliun-per-tahun] became a suspect in an alleged case of receiving gratuities related to licensing and procurement of goods and services for infrastructure development.