It looks like the drama of
the MARKUS case (the biggest corruption in the history of taxation in
Indonesia estimated at 100 billion-ed) which involves the top brasses in the
POLRI (police of Republic of Indonesia-ed) is not going to be over soon. One
by one, the police personnels in the rank of Generals got dragged into the
torrent which was triggered by Gayus Tambunan (a tax official charged for
corruption and money laundering-ed). Like domino cards, one personnel would
mention another personnel. In fact not only the POLRI, but also the ranks of
prosecutors had to consent that a number of their individuals are involved
in this MARKUS corruption case.
As the public, we can only shake our heads. We have not yet overcome our
shocks from the Century case with its icon, Anggodo Widjaja (top
entrepreneur charged with conspiracy to commit graft; and attempts to hinder
investigations into graft cases by attempting to bribe two leaders of the
Corruption Eradication Commission/KPK -ed). Investigations after
investigations, how easy corruptions and misappropriations are making a fool
of the laws of Indonesia. Anybody could be bought, even in the class of the
higher officials in the POLRI. Evidently, big salaries do not guarantee that
they would not drool for the tantalizing gains from the corruption.
All of a sudden, the map changed. Susno Duaji (Police Commissioner General)
who was earlier considered as the most accountable in the Century case for
his 'Cicak Lawan Buaya' (or Lizard vs Crocodile i.e. the conflict
between the POLRI and KPK. Both of these law enforcement agencies mutually
exposed the involvement of their government officials in the cases of
authority and position abuse -ed), is now praised and lauded because of his
bravery in exposing the MARKUS case which surrounds the police department.
This is the dunya, it is very easy for the society to change the
status of someone because of their shrewdness in playing their roles all
these time. In fact, even if we are gazing at the TV and reading the
newspaper everyday, it could not make us understand which is true and which
is wrong.
Not yet done with the police, now a more absurd case is appearing. A TV
presenter and his TV is also allegedly involved in enlivening this
extraordinary drama. It is believed that TV One has invented a fabrication
by making a fake interview of MARKUS. Strangely, it was this TV that, all
these while, was known to be very close to the sources of the police. In the
end, it makes us question whether, all these while, the informants they had
presented for the investigation of the terrorism cases are true or they are
just fabrications. We do not know all those...
All these are making us aware again, that the dunya is something
temporal. The brown police uniform does not guarantee the goodness of their
hearts. Because, there will always be individuals who could at any time
commit mischiefs. If those who commit the crimes are the low-ranking police,
there might be many acknowledgments. But, when apparently the committers of
those corruption are precisely those at the leadership level, then it is
just appropriate that we are asking, how good is the quality of our police.
Who had been assessing their credibilities all these while? And who would be
responsible for their performances? A total evaluation has to be done within
the police ranks. Cleansing of the problematic police personnels should be
done the soonest. Though they are said to be outstanding in eradicating what
they called terrorism, their akhlaq and moralities are still
questionable. Every party has the right to know, how good is the quality of
the akhlaq of the police in this country? Don't let the
responsibility of maintaining security be filled up by the corrupt leaders.
Because, there is no good in the corrupt leaders.
These exposures of a case after another are also opening our eyes that there
is truth in what had been said by Bang (Brother) Napi (host of a crime news
program on a TV channel -ed) in his routine credo at the end of his message:
CRIME DOES NOT HAPPEN BECAUSE OF WILLS ONLY, BUT ALSO BECAUSE OF
OPPORTUNITIES. BEWARE! Looks like we need to add another word. That crime
does not happen because of wills and opportunities only, but also because of
togetherness. Together, the corruptions are moving across the agencies,
offices and departments. This is clearly more wicked than the terror
suspects who are always convicted before being tried. Shot to death without
being given the chance to defend themselves in court. Because, the
corruptions that they are committing are not because they are poor, also not
because they are fighting tyranny and immorality. But they committed
corruptions because it is the nature of their personality to be thieves who
have no shame towards their own people. Beware!... beware!... Bang Napi
said. ^_^
By: Burhan Sodiq
[muslimdaily.net]