Indonesia & Corruption: a few articles in the past few weeks

[serious_fun]

Indonesian Communication minister arrested in connection with huge corruption scandal

"...causing a huge hole in the public treasury."

 

[Samoerai]

"... eight trillion rupees (US$ 544 million)". Half a billion USdollars, unbelievable. Where did he hide that?

 

[centurion]

Interesting notes about the state of the union

Indonesia has lost its way on corruption and freedom

Quest to turn nation into a modern democracy has failed

asia.nikkei.com

 

[Samoerai]

Interesting notes about the state of the union

Indonesia has lost its way on corruption and freedom

Quest to turn nation into a modern democracy has failed

asia.nikkei.com

Unbelievable ...

Corruption in gold imports: Customs officials accused of costing the state trillions in losses

The method of avoiding gold import duty tax was revealed to involve various customs officials. This illicit practice caused trillions of state losses. Some officials said that this practice has been ongoing for a long time.

indonesiabusinesspost.com

All of these cases could be movie scripts for blockbuster movies in Indonesia ... starting the movie with "Based on a true story ...". Those movies are also educational for the people, btw.

 

[fastpitch17]

Unbelievable ...

All of these cases could be movie scripts for blockbuster movies in Indonesia ... starting the movie with "Based on a true story ...". Those movies are also educational for the people, btw.

Then the producers get sued and lose for telling the truth about someone.

 

[Samoerai]

Then the producers get sued and lose for telling the truth about someone.

Which is another case for a great movie

 

[pantaiema]

This is a compilation of Mega Corruption in Indonesia reaching IDR78 T

 

[pantaiema]

"... eight trillion rupees (US$ 544 million)". Half a billion USdollars, unbelievable. Where did he hide that?

Definitely, it is not just for himself or his family. He might be using it to support his party, helping presidential candidate campaign ??

 

[Samoerai]

This is a compilation of Mega Corruption in Indonesia reaching IDR78 T

Wow, 78 trillion rupiah .. at least they are doing something to be 'proud' of in this country

 

[pantaiema]

Indonesian Communication minister arrested in connection with huge corruption scandal

"...causing a huge hole in the public treasury."

As mentioned previously the mega corruption case in Indonesia is probably one of the most extreme case (if not the most extreme) in the world.

ASABRI case: this is the welfare and pension fund for Indonesian Army, Police and their family members. Who on earth in their right mind have a courage to embezzle it.

Indonesian Communication and information minister Johnny G Plate case, is another example.

Mahfud Beberkan Kejanggalan Proyek BTS 4G yang Menyeret Johnny G Plate

Plt Menkominfo, Mahfud MD beberkan kejanggalan dari kasus korupsi BTS 4G. Menara BTS yang sudah dibangun tidak berfungsi...

nasional.kompas.com

The funding of IDR10T for the construction of 4.200 BTSs (Base Transceiver Stations) for 4G is already paid in full from 2020-2021 budget.
As at March 2022 it is only 1.110 BTS were reported built and from spot check it is only 958 BTSs exist.
"Out of this 958, it is not known whether they can actually be used or not, because after taking 8 samples, none of them function according to specifications," said Mahfud.

The main actor doing this must be either very naive, or very brave thinking that they might be protected, their actions would not be revealed. It is very easy to physically count how many of BTSs exist, whether they are functioning or not. Again this is another extreme case.

When you reveal a mega corruption case involving a lot of people with power, wealth and influence, you have got to be super clean from corruption to reveal a mega corruption case. It is very easy for people to search for your weakness / defect to be used by other people to go against you for a retaliation. The current president and government have revealed so many mega corruption cases compared to his predecessors, the previous Indonesian president all combined.

Also the current Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs of Indonesia, Mahmud MD must be very clean to reveal such recent mega corruption cases involving so many powerful people with wealth and influence. Unfortunately his name is not mentioned as the vice president as he is not affiliated to any party.

 

[serious_fun]

...must be very clean to reveal such recent mega corruption cases involving so many powerful people with wealth and influence

Ja, exactly. But I guess that there is a powerful faction behind the scenes that will defend anyone making the accusations. This is faction vs. faction (e.g. 'typical political infighting'). The rich and powerful are scrambling right now to make sure that they survive any purge!

I believe that this was a perfect time to bring such accusations since the Indonesian people were sickened by the Sambo case. Having 'the people' onboard will make sure that the case moves forward.

 

[serious_fun]

A different twist on the story, but still involving powerful factions:

Indonesia telecom scandal buzzing with election intrigue

 

[pantaiema]

Official Reporting and claiming using local content. In fact, it is just imported and repackaged.

This is the way Indonesian businesses are competing, they can not compete internationally as the protection, monopoly, subsidy given to them to allow the local industries to thrive, using more local contents is manipulated most of the time.

 

[serious_fun]

As the public perception of corruption (and subsequent immunity from prosecution for the criminals) rises, the easier it may be for more extreme movements to recruit members.

This is happening in Malaysia: Fundamentalist Islam Comes to Urban Malaysia

 

[pantaiema]

The list of corrupt ministers under JW presidency.

Johnny G Plate Jadi Menteri Kelima di Kabinet Jokowi yang Terlibat Korupsi

Jumlah menteri di kabinet pemerintahan Presiden Jokowi yang terlibat korupsi bertambah setelah Menkominfo Johnny G Plate ditetapkan sebagai tersangka.

nasional.kompas.com

 

[serious_fun]

As the public perception of corruption (and subsequent immunity from prosecution for the criminals) rises, the easier it may be for more extreme movements to recruit members.

This is happening in Malaysia: Fundamentalist Islam Comes to Urban Malaysia

More opinion(s) re: how corruption and mismanagement may lead to religious rule:

It’s already too late to talk about stopping Hadi or about reversing the slide towards an Islamic state. It is now only a matter of time before political Islam triumphs over Malaysia’s secular constitution.

 

[harryopal1]

While there is still the group of untouchables, it has been encouraging to see high level officials being charged with corruption. But I do wonder about follow up with charges laid against those offering and providing bribes. I can understand the difficulties involving foreign entities but why not charge local corrupters? Or have I missed something?

 

[fastpitch17]

While there is still the group of untouchables, it has been encouraging to see high level officials being charged with corruption. But I do wonder about follow up with charges laid against those offering and providing bribes. I can understand the difficulties involving foreign entities but why not charge local corrupters? Or have I missed something?

Well, if you go after those that give out the bribes you will take away opportunities for other who are better at hiding them to get them.

 

[snpark]

Ah yes the "I'm sorry I got caught" crowd

 

[pantaiema]

Another extreme case. Teachers embezzle saving from their own school children, could you believe that ??. The saving of these elementary school children is intended to fund their education in the next level, the junior high school. If the school children have witnessed their money embezzled by their own teachers, what behaviour could be expected if they grow up and in the future they find similar opportunities ?
But more seriously, this is not an isolated case. There are other schools yet to be discovered. From one school alone IDR7.47b is embezzled.

It seems it is a subculture, money collected from public is treated like their own money. It does not relay matter whether the money belongs to the Army / Police or school children.
https://www.kompas.tv/video/418512/...i-satu-sekolah-polisi-minta-orang-tua-melapor The disappearance of school children saving money does not only happen in one school. Police ask parents to report it.