The Directorate of Inter-Commission and Institutional Cooperation Development (PJKAKI) of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), in collaboration with the Faculty of Law, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), held an event titled “Dissemination of the Outcomes of Multilateral Activities on the Implementation of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) in Indonesia” on Tuesday, October 22, 2019. The event aimed to share key information on anti-corruption efforts gained from various multilateral forums.
The event opened with remarks from the Dean of the Faculty of Law UGM, Prof. Dr. Sigit Riyanto, S.H., LL.M., and the Director of the KPK’s Directorate of Inter-Commission and Institutional Cooperation Development, Sujanarko. The speakers included Prof. Sigit Riyanto, S.H., LL.M., a lecturer in International Law at the Faculty of Law UGM; Yunizar Adiputera, S.IP., M.A., a lecturer in International Relations at the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIPOL) UGM; Sujanarko, Director of the KPK’s Directorate of Inter-Commission and Institutional Cooperation Development; and Dadang Trisasongko, Secretary General of Transparency International Indonesia (TII).
In his presentation, Prof. Sigit emphasized that corruption is a global problem. Citing findings from the World Economic Forum and the World Bank, he noted that corruption can increase business costs by 10%, while in certain sectors, such as procurement, it can account for as much as 25% of costs. Countries that fail to reduce corruption risk slower national economic growth. Prof. Sigit stressed the importance of prevention and the need for coordinated action. He highlighted that raising public awareness requires both legal measures and public support.
Yunizar focused his presentation on international politics. He emphasized the importance of multilateral cooperation, as corruption is a transnational issue that can cross national borders. Multilateral cooperation also takes various forms, including the exchange of ideas, experiences, and practices, allowing countries to learn from one another. He further noted that, within an anarchic international system, multilateral cooperation provides a platform for countries to establish common rules and resolve disputes peacefully.
Sujanarko noted that many people consider the KPK successful in arresting corruptors. However, he argued that the KPK often only apprehends those acting on behalf of the perpetrators, while the masterminds remain at large. This is because the individuals behind corrupt schemes often leave no trace, despite being the ultimate beneficiaries of corruption. He also highlighted that Indonesia has yet to fully adopt the UNCAC provisions concerning the beneficiaries of corruption, despite the existence of a Presidential Regulation addressing the issue. In addition, he emphasized the importance of the KPK’s independence, stating that without institutional independence, the KPK would not be able to effectively combat corruption.
Dadang Trisasongko emphasized the importance of having a dedicated anti-corruption institution, particularly the KPK. In his view, even the world’s cleanest countries still require such institutions. He argued that the government should use UNCAC as a political currency, while civil society can use it as a new benchmark for assessing anti-corruption efforts.
The dissemination event concluded with a question-and-answer session, followed by the presentation of tokens of appreciation to the speakers.
