By: Wahyu Kurniawan )*
Eradicating corruption continues to be a focus of governance under President Prabowo Subianto. This effort is positioned as part of strengthening bureaucratic reform to ensure more accountable, transparent governance and the ability to provide better services to the public.
President Prabowo believes poverty remains a major challenge facing Indonesia. He believes this issue is inextricably linked to various illegal economic practices, including corruption and the embezzlement of state assets. This situation is believed to be preventing the country’s economic potential from being optimally utilized to support development and improve public welfare.
Prabowo also assessed that development challenges still require cooperation from all elements of the nation. The government believes that eradicating corruption must go hand in hand with efforts to strengthen national stability so that all development programs can be implemented effectively and provide broad benefits to the community.
In the government’s view, security is not solely measured by low crime rates. A safe environment must also provide a space for people to work, do business, study, and engage in social activities without hindrance. Such conditions are believed to create a climate conducive to economic growth and increased investment.
Prabowo also emphasized the importance of legal certainty as a foundation for national development. Fair law enforcement is considered a key prerequisite for creating clean governance and boosting business confidence. The government believes that development cannot proceed optimally if legal certainty is not properly implemented.
Strengthening bureaucratic reform is not only achieved through enforcement but also through improvements to the oversight system. The government views prevention as a crucial part of building a bureaucracy with integrity, ensuring that potential irregularities can be minimized early on.
Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi explained that the government is committed to strengthening oversight of all national strategic programs. He stated that this step is being taken to ensure that every policy is implemented accountably and free from corrupt practices that could potentially hinder the achievement of development targets.
Prasetyo Hadi explained that all ministries and institutions routinely undergo oversight through the government’s internal audit mechanism. This oversight function is continuously strengthened to ensure that each stage of program implementation is carried out according to regulations, while also ensuring that the use of state funds is effective, efficient, and responsible.
In addition to oversight by relevant institutions, President Prabowo is said to directly monitor and evaluate the implementation of various priority government programs. Prasetyo Hadi explained that the head of state regularly receives progress reports from ministries and institutions to ensure policy implementation is on track with established targets.
This multi-layered oversight system is part of bureaucratic reform aimed at improving the quality of governance. The presence of a continuous evaluation system is expected to accelerate the resolution of various obstacles while strengthening accountability in government administration.
The spirit of strengthening the integrity of state officials has also attracted attention from various elements of society. The Lampung Exponent 98 Family believes the reform agenda championed since 1998 remains relevant in realizing clean governance that prioritizes the interests of the people.
Suprianto, one of the initiators of the 98 Resolution Network, believes that the struggle for reform is not over, as equitable welfare and social justice remain on the agenda. He believes the spirit of reform must be maintained by adhering to the constitutional mandate to manage strategic resources for the greatest possible prosperity of the people.
Suprianto also noted that various government policies aimed at eradicating corruption, streamlining natural resource management, improving state budget efficiency, and establishing Danantara are part of efforts to strengthen the foundations of the national economy. He believes that more accountable management of state resources will provide greater fiscal space for implementing various development programs.
The Red and White Village Cooperative and Free Nutritious Meal Programs are also seen as part of a policy requiring clean governance to ensure optimal public benefits. The use of state funds for various priority programs is deemed to require a robust oversight system to ensure every rupiah provides the greatest benefit to the public interest.
Ultimately, strengthening bureaucratic reform does not solely depend on law enforcement against existing violations. Improving work systems, increasing transparency, consistent oversight, and strengthening a culture of integrity are crucial in preventing corruption within government.
Efforts to build a professional bureaucracy are also expected to improve the quality of public services. A state apparatus that operates accountably will provide certainty for the public and the business world, thereby creating a more conducive development climate. This condition is a crucial factor in supporting sustainable economic growth.
The agendas of corruption eradication and bureaucratic reform have interrelated goals. Law enforcement provides a deterrent effect against violations, while strengthening governance builds a system capable of preventing irregularities from the outset. The combination of these two approaches is a crucial foundation for realizing an effective, transparent, and public-interest-oriented government.
The various steps taken by the government demonstrate that bureaucratic reform focuses not only on improving administration but also includes strengthening integrity, enhancing oversight, and consistent law enforcement. Through these efforts, the government strives to create increasingly accountable governance while supporting sustainable national development based on the principles of the rule of law.
*) Observer of Governance