The Corruption Eradication Commission believes that corrupt practices in the public service sector often begin with deviations that are considered trivial and then develop into larger violations.
KPK Chairman Setyo Budiyanto said one of the causes was a mindset that was not oriented towards public service.
"If it can be slowed down, why speed it up? If it can be made more difficult, why make it easier? If the bureaucratic chain can be lengthened, why shorten it?" Setyo said at the National Administration Institute building.
According to him, this kind of mindset can open up space for extortion in public services.
"The matter should have been trivial and accountable, but for one reason or another, there began to be gratification, the smallest extortion, then conflicts of interest, influence of office, and so on," he said.
In addition, Setyo highlighted the habit of giving which is still often considered normal by some people.
"Many people often present this as part of tolerance. Why? Eastern customs, culture, and respect. It's just trivial things, and we seem to think of them as something that's okay, normal," he said.
He reminded that deviant practices generally do not start from major violations, but from small things that are continuously allowed to continue.
For example, Setyo touched on the practice of illegal parking, which is often considered a simple problem.
"Rp2,000, Rp3,000, Rp5,000, we might consider it small change. However, because it's being extorted indirectly or allowed to happen, the money definitely can't just go to the parking attendant. The money might also go to the parking manager, perhaps the area manager, perhaps the person in charge of the area, or even the authorities," he said.
According to him, allowing such small practices could create a wider chain of deviations.
"We take it for granted. However, if we tidy it up, I'm sure it will become something truly extraordinary," he said.
One of the alleged corruption cases related to public services being handled by the Corruption Eradication Commission this year is alleged extortion in the processing of residence permits for foreign nationals and the acceptance of gratuities within the Directorate General of Immigration for the 2022–2026 period.
In this case, the Corruption Eradication Committee has named a number of suspects, including former Minister of Immigration and Corrections Silmy Karim, who is currently undergoing further legal proceedings.
