There are two focuses that need to be done by anti-corruption women in Indonesia; not allowing fraud to occur in the surrounding environment, and focusing on eliminating fraudulent practices in the basic public service sector (education and health).
“If these (3 focuses) are programmed properly, Indonesia will be better off in the future.” This was conveyed by the Executive Director of the Partnership, Laode M. Syarif when he was a resource person for a discussion on the theme of Women and Anti-Corruption organized by SPAK (I am Anti-Corruption Woman) and the Partnership.
According to Laode, women can be involved in preventing corruption in the education sector. But according to him, first, women must know their rights, for example the right not to give gifts to teachers.
“In Singapore, the activity (giving money or gifts to teachers) is actually considered a crime,” Laode said.
He added, the practice of giving tutoring is also commonly done by teachers in the lion’s land. But it is strictly forbidden to give tutoring to students who attend the school where he teaches.
“To avoid a conflict of interest,” said KPK commissioners 2015-2019 period.
On this occasion, Laode also highlighted the corrupt practices carried out by female officials.
“Corruption has no gender. If they really maximize their potential, women will be more powerful in the future,” he said.
The opportunity to serve must be used to make changes and it is proven, “for example, Mrs. Risma is known to be clean, she cleans Surabaya (from budget misappropriation practices) with e-planning and e-budgeting,” and also another example, “Ulfa, SPAK agent in the Police, she created a desk program without drawers.”
Not only officials, women housewives can also contribute to preventing corruption. Laode advised, “a wife must keep her husband from being corrupt, because if the husband is corrupt it will have an impact on his wife, children, mother, in-laws and family, because they are considered to be enjoying the results.”
One way is, the wife must ask her husband when he gets money that does not match the amount of his husband’s income.
In the context of the anti-corruption women’s movement in Indonesia, the figure who is also a law lecturer at Hasanuddin Makassar University appreciates the SPAK movement which is quite massive in bringing about change, and spreading positive energy to this nation.
Positive energy also needs to be spreaded by the media, one of which is by appointing female officials who have an interest in corruption issues. “So far, the media has mostly reported negative news, instead of positive news.”
He hoped that SPAK would be more progressive in spreading the anti-corruption virus to the village level, considering that the circulation of money after the village fund was very large, while the KPK could not take action because it was not a state administrator.
Therefore, he also encouraged the KPK to pay more attention to anti-corruption women’s movements in Indonesia.
Regarding answering questions from discussion participants, Laode enthusiastically shared his experience asking the Ambassador of the country with the best corruption perception index in the world, Denmark.
“Since childhood, children are taught that public and private stuff are different, if there is chalk or marker from school, should not be used to draw on a personal book. Including not being able to damage public goods, because they are paid using people’s taxes,” Laode said, also about the teachings that made an impression when they became public officials.
Laode also shared tips when answering questions about how to prevent corruption, which is to be honest with yourself and friends first. Next, use the prophet’s formula when you see something evil, that is, prevent it with your hands, if you can’t do it verbally and finally with prayer. “But the latter is as weak as faith,” he said.
Lastly, never vote for a paying official (at the time of election). “If you pay, it means that you pawn your idealism and voice with a very small nominal, only Rp. 100-200K,” he concluded.
Watch the full discussion of Mr. Syarif with SPAK on: Youtube KEMITRAAN