By: Moeini Syakir
Corruption is not merely a legal offense — it is the blatant theft of the future. When a government focuses its energy on eradicating corruption, it is fundamentally protecting the rights of the younger generation — to quality education, humane healthcare, and fair access to job opportunities. Viewed from this perspective, the anti-corruption commitment under Prabowo’s leadership is not only about law enforcement, but about reclaiming the living space that has long been eroded by budget leaks.
From a public policy standpoint, signs of progress are emerging in two key areas: law enforcement and fiscal discipline. Social observer Serian Wijatno sees the anti-corruption achievements in Prabowo’s first year as having a direct impact on economic stability and social welfare. He links this progress to increased investor confidence and the return of public funds to their intended purpose: serving the people. He emphasizes that anti-corruption efforts, especially in collaboration with the Attorney General’s Office and other legal institutions, represent not only legal processes but long-term investments that restore citizens’ rights and improve the accuracy of social programs.
At the macro level, Serian points to a combination of indicators — low inflation, a controlled state budget deficit, and declines in unemployment and poverty — as evidence of a stronger economic foundation built under a clean governance framework. Simultaneously, public opinion surveys by research institutions show high satisfaction rates, indicating that social capital for reform remains strong.
On the front of political leadership, President Prabowo has framed anti-corruption as concrete fiscal reform. He stated that the government has successfully reallocated hundreds of trillions of rupiah from corruption-prone budget items to people-centered programs — from Free Nutritious Meals and People’s Schools to public health services and rural infrastructure. He also reaffirmed that no corruption case is immune from legal action, calling corruption a “disease” that, if left unchecked, will destroy the nation. For prevention, he has focused on the integrity of front-line officials, including policies to improve the welfare of law enforcement officers to reduce vulnerability to bribery.
In terms of law enforcement, statistics from various agencies over the past year offer a clear picture of policy direction. The Attorney General’s Office, for instance, reportedly recovered tens of trillions of rupiah in a case involving CPO (crude palm oil) exports and derivatives. Independent research also notes that dozens of corruption cases have been handled across institutions, with national financial losses reduced by hundreds of trillions. There are also reports of state assets being recovered and returned to the treasury. In major strategic cases like oil governance, law enforcers have pushed for the recovery of substantial losses. In Parliament, Abdullah, a member of Commission III (PKB faction), praised the government’s consistency in upholding the rule of law, while also emphasizing the need for transparent and accountable oversight.
Yet anti-corruption efforts cannot be reduced to statistics alone. Equally important is how this agenda is carried forward by the younger generation as a cultural movement. Here, public ethics education, budget literacy, and digital civic participation serve as critical bridges. Today’s youth are the primary users of public services — and tomorrow, they will be the nation’s largest taxpayers. It makes perfect sense, then, to involve them not just as spectators, but as creators of integrity-based practices.
The reforms being implemented — from legal systems and fiscal frameworks to governance improvements — open the door for meaningful youth involvement. When the president redirects savings from efficiency efforts into pro-people programs, the most powerful form of youth participation is ensuring that these benefits truly reach their targets: on-time and safe school meals, transparent scholarships, health clinics with no hidden charges, and functional, not just decorative, infrastructure projects. In other words, the true “result” of anti-corruption is a fairer, more dignified daily life for citizens — and the first to test that reality should be the youth themselves.
Certainly, challenges remain: regulatory consistency, conflict-of-interest prevention, whistleblower protection, and maintaining the independence of legal institutions. But the overarching direction has been clearly set — public funds must return to serve the public. At this point, critical support from young people becomes essential — support that avoids blind loyalty, but also does not fall into destructive cynicism. The guiding ethic is simple: support what’s right to keep moving, and correct what’s wrong without adding unnecessary noise.
Indonesian youth have long yearned for meaningful politics. The anti-corruption agenda offers the clearest stage to realize that aspiration. The government enforces and reforms, while youth ensure benefits are delivered and culture is built. If this partnership is nurtured, we will not only punish corrupt behavior, but foster an ecosystem where corruption becomes too costly, too risky, and ultimately irrational.
This is why the anti-corruption commitment under Prabowo’s leadership should be read as an invitation — a baton of integrity, waiting to be carried forward by the generation who will live the longest with its consequences.
*) The author is a public policy analyst.
