jpnn.com, JAKARTA – According to Ratno Sulistiyanto, Executive Director of Indopol Survey, the rigorous fight against corruption will play a pivotal role in shaping public perception of the incoming Prabowo Subianto administration. He emphasizes that law enforcement bodies, including the Attorney General’s Office (AGO), the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), and the Police, must proactively pursue large-scale corruption cases with unwavering impartiality.
Based on surveys conducted by Indopol and other prominent institutions, Ratno notes that corruption consistently ranks as the worst performing aspect for local governments, the central government, and even the KPK itself. “If the Prabowo government can effectively tackle this issue of corruption eradication, it will undoubtedly garner significant positive public sentiment,” Ratno stated.
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Ratno provided an example: the Attorney General’s Office’s success in exposing corruption cases that led to the recovery of state losses amounting to tens of trillions of rupiah significantly boosted positive public perception towards Prabowo. However, this positive trend was subsequently undermined by the emergence of other issues, such as the “Hoki” case in Sleman, which caused a decline in public confidence. “It is imperative that these corruption cases clearly demonstrate the Prabowo government’s unwavering resolve against corruption,” Ratno asserted. He commended the AGO’s strategy of publicly exposing its handling of corruption cases, particularly when they involve substantial state losses or significant recoveries.
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Ratno suggested that the KPK should emulate the AGO’s approach by prioritizing corruption cases that involve substantial state financial losses. “The recurring issue,” he noted, “is that the KPK often targets regional heads for cases involving less than IDR 1 billion, which ultimately devolves into a political controversy.” Instead, the KPK should focus its efforts on high-impact cases with significant state losses, drawing a parallel to the AGO’s recent handling of the nickel export case, which alone incurred an estimated state loss of nearly IDR 2.7 trillion.
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“I consider that a significant achievement for the AGO,” he explained, emphasizing the need for a strategic shift among law enforcement agencies. Currently, one positive public perception regarding the Prabowo government’s performance is its perceived commitment to the welfare of the community. This is exemplified by initiatives such as the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program. However, public perception regarding law enforcement remains unsatisfactory.
“While it’s true that the Prabowo administration demonstrates firmness on legal matters, the tangible results of law enforcement have remained consistent over the past five years,” Ratno observed. “This landscape would undergo a complete transformation if Prabowo were to vigorously pursue illegal logging and major corruption perpetrators.”
Adding another dimension to the discussion, Dedi Kurnia Syah, a political observer from Indonesia Political Opinion (IPO), stated that survey results consistently highlight corruption as a significant public concern, with a strong desire for its thorough eradication. However, Syah pointed out an intriguing anomaly: while the public undeniably hopes for a government free from corruption, a persistent occurrence of corruption often does not erode their trust in the administration. “This phenomenon could be influenced by other factors such as high popularity or strong public appeal of the leaders,” he suggested.
He clarified that surveys do not test ideals but rather reflect public perception. “Surveys merely illustrate perception; public satisfaction with anti-corruption law enforcement will directly correlate with the public’s awareness of ongoing corruption activities,” Syah concluded. (dil/jpnn)
Summary
The executive director of Indopol Survey, Ratno Sulistiyanto, asserts that a rigorous fight against corruption will significantly shape public perception of the incoming Prabowo Subianto administration. Surveys consistently show corruption as the worst-performing aspect for government bodies, making effective eradication crucial for garnering positive public sentiment. Law enforcement agencies like the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) and the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) are urged to proactively pursue large-scale corruption cases with impartiality.
The AGO’s strategy of publicly exposing substantial state loss recoveries has effectively boosted public perception, an approach the KPK is encouraged to emulate by prioritizing high-impact cases with significant state losses. While the Prabowo administration demonstrates commitment to community welfare, public perception of law enforcement remains unsatisfactory. Experts note that public trust is not always eroded by corruption, possibly due to leaders’ popularity, and surveys reflect public perception of these efforts.