TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - After three Koran Tempo cover stories this week on the 'sale' of government positions at the regional level, we finally get the message: there is little or no meritocracy in our bureaucracy, at least at the 10 provinces identified by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) as being the most problematic.
These provinces – Aceh, Papua, West Papua, Riau, Banten, North Sumatra, Bengkulu, Central Java, East Nusa Tenggara and Central Sulawesi – have cost the government a staggering Rp35 trillion in corrupt practices. Imagine just how much infrastructure all that money could have built! And here's the price list: from the lowest of Rp5 million to get an administrator's job at a health center to a high of Rp400 million for a ministry representative position in the provinces.
It's about time meritocracy and the meaning of 'mengabdi' or to serve selflessly, be embedded in the curriculum of civil servants training programs. To be fair, some provinces have been aware of this serious problem and taken preventive steps. "We are working with the KPK on this," said Abdul Karim, chief of Aceh Provincial Inspectorate Office. About time, Pak.
YULI ISMARTONO