Under the Radar

The Home Affairs Ministry's announcement on regional autonomy last August did not exactly inspire optimism. Since more authority was handed over to regional governments in 1999, 361 regional chief executives343 regents and 18 governorshave been involved in corruption cases. That number does not include regional chief executives rounded up by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) since December last year.

Most of the regional leaders implicated were involved in bribery cases over issues of budgeting and licensing. When the KPK arrested Klaten Regent Sri Hartini at the end of last year, a new pattern was discovered: the sale and purchase of government positions. The regent allegedly used her position to obtain money from subordinates hoping to get promoted. In fact, bribery surrounding government posts is nothing new.

January 31, 2017