MAKASSAR – KEMITRAAN, in collaboration with the Anti-Corruption Committee (ACC), held the Anti-Corruption Festival at the ACC office courtyard in Makassar on Sunday, December 8, 2024. The event, part of the International Anti-Corruption Day (Hakordia) commemoration, brought youthful energy to the fight against corruption, despite heavy rainfall.
Young people from diverse backgrounds, including representatives of youth with disabilities, religious groups, and students from various universities in Makassar, attended the festival. During his opening remarks, Danardono Siradjudin, INTEGRITAS Program Manager at KEMITRAAN, emphasized the crucial role of youth in combating corruption.
“Young people are the new hope. The future of the anti-corruption movement is in their hands,” said Danar.
The event continued with a panel discussion featuring two young legislators from the South Sulawesi Regional Legislative Council (DPRD), Anarchie Arus Bakti and Andi Tenri Abeng Salangketo, alongside representatives from the Youth Integrity Center (YIC), Noor Adelia and Ali Asrawi Ramadhan, a researcher at ACC.
The discussion explored the role of youth in eradicating corruption. Bakti and Tenri shared their experiences as young legislators overseeing budget processes in the South Sulawesi DPRD. Bakti highlighted the determination of young legislators to fight corruption.
“As young individuals, we are eager to contribute directly to combating corruption, and we strive to incorporate this commitment into our daily legislative duties,” said Bakti.
Tenri echoed these sentiments, sharing how her role as a legislator often involves addressing corruption concerns, particularly during budget oversight.
“As legislators, we maximize our role in ensuring accountability in the budgeting process within the DPRD,” Tenri explained.
Adelia from YIC underscored the importance of civil society’s role in fighting corruption, recounting her experience monitoring procurement processes. She revealed instances of inflated budgets leading to substandard goods with unreasonably high prices, resulting in significant public losses.
She argued that corruption is often perceived as distant from youth, but in reality, it deeply affects their daily lives. For instance, poor educational facilities due to embezzled construction funds are a direct consequence of corruption, which disproportionately impacts young people.
“That’s why we must and should get involved in the fight against corruption. Young people are among those most affected by it,” said Adelia.
