Indonesia anti‑corruption chief warns bureaucratic mindset fuels petty corruption

KPK chair Setyo Budiyanto told a gathering at the National E‑Learning ASN Integrity launch that small illegal fees in public services often grow from tolerated minor corruption. He said a mindset that deliberately slows or complicates procedures creates space for illegal transactions, citing examples such as parking fees that cascade up to officials. Budiyanto emphasized that both officials and citizens who excuse “cultural” gratuities contribute to the problem. He warned that unless the bureaucracy’s attitude changes, larger graft cases will follow. The KPK is currently investigating a major scheme involving immigration permits and a former minister for alleged extortion and gratification, underscoring the urgency of reforming public‑service integrity.

The chair urged aggressive action to correct these small‑scale deviations, arguing that doing so will dramatically improve the quality of public services in Indonesia.