Indonesia Independence Day: Lawmaker calls for corruption reform

On the occasion of Indonesia's 81st Independence Day, Ateng Sutisna, a member of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) from the PKS faction, stated that true independence requires liberating the people from corruption, legal injustice, structural poverty, and poor public services.

Sutisna highlighted that bureaucracy must serve the community rather than those in power. He noted that Indonesia's 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index score of 34 out of 100, ranking 109 out of 182 countries, serves as an alarm for the need for deeper reform. He argued that digitalization alone is insufficient; reform must include leadership by example, strengthened oversight, budget transparency, and consistent law enforcement.

Furthermore, Sutisna advocated for a merit-based system in state institutions, where competence and integrity take precedence over seniority or political patronage. He encouraged the government to provide more opportunities for younger generations, including Millennial and Gen Z civil servants, to build a professional and adaptive bureaucracy.