Jakarta, 2 April 2020. Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) strengthens its commitment to the supervision of fund allocated for handling Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), One of such efforts was to issue Circular Letter Number 8 of 2020 on the Implementation of Goods/Services Procurement Budget for Accelerating the Handling of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Relation to the Prevention of the Criminal Act of Corruption.
“One of the most pressing things to do now is to provide the necessary goods and services for handling COVID-19, such as PPE. Therefore, in order to prevent corruption, KPK has carried out monitoring activities and established cooperation with the Task Force for the Acceleration of COVID-19 Handling, both at national and regional levels, in the area of corruption prevention,” said KPK Commissioner Firli Bahuri on Thursday, 2 April 2020, in Jakarta.
Besides issuing a circular, KPK also formed a special team to supervise COVID-19-related activities and worked with the Task Force at national and regional levels, as well as with other stakeholders. KPK is carrying out these duties in response to the President’s instructions which require KPK to help monitor activities related to the acceleration of COVID-19 handling in Indonesia.
KPK feels compelled to take these measures in order to provide certainty for on-site workers and decision-makers regarding what constitutes a criminal act of corruption. Lack of clarity about this matter may cause these workers to accidentally commit any of these acts because they often have to make quick decisions and take immediate actions during emergency situations.
“The Circular serves as preventive guidelines which are expected to provide certainty for executors and workers. The point is, as long as no element of any corrupt action has taken place, goods and services procurement can be carried out without worry,” said Firli.
One of the principles which KPK includes in the Circular is that goods and services provision must always be carried out in full accordance with prevailing laws and regulations, including special regulations issued by the Government Goods and Services Procurement Policy (LKPP).
Based on several studies and previous cases, KPK has identified a number of modi operandi and potentials for corruption during goods and services procurement processes. These include colluding with goods/services providers, receiving a bribe, receiving gratuities, clashing of interests, making dirty deals, taking advantage of emergency situations, and allowing a crime to happen.
“We also encourage APIP (Internal Government Supervisory Apparatus) and BPKP (Finance and Development Supervisory Agency) to take an active role in monitoring and educating all stakeholders related to goods and services procurement by consulting LKPP,” said Firli.
These are in line with the provisions specified in Article 6 points a, b, and c of Law Number 19 of 2019 on the Second Amendment to Law Number 30 of 2002 on Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) which regulates that KPK has a duty to, among others, carry out corruption prevention, establish coordination with other agencies, and conduct monitoring activities in order to prevent corrupt practices.
Public Relations Bureau
Komisi Pemberantasan Korupsi
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(021) 2557-8300
KPK Call Center: 198
www.kpk.go.id
Attachment: Circular Letter Number 8 of 2020 on the Implementation of Goods/Services Procurement Budget for Accelerating the Handling of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Relation to the Prevention of the Criminal Act of Corruption.
