That is what might be the reason behind calls on civil servants to not accept gifts of any kind on the occasion of "Lebaran" or Eid al-Fitr.
While exchanging gifts is common among people in the country especially during big events such as Lebaran or Christmas, in Indonesia where corruption is still rampant it could be used as a pretext to bribe.
In view of that Indonesian minister of administrative reform Yuddy Chrisnandi has issued a warning that civil servants are not allowed to receive gifts connected with their positions.
He said it was okay to exchange gifts so long as the gifts are still normal or worth no more than one million rupiahs although they would still be unethical if they are given because of the positions of the recipients.
The minister said he had made the call for the purpose of safeguarding the integrity of the countrys civil servants. He also considered that the welfare of the civil servants have now been better.
He said civil servants would get Lebaran allowance known locally as THR in the form of the 14th salary which will be paid seven days before the fall of Lebaran which is on July 6 at the latest.
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has also made the same call.
According to the explanation of Article 12B of Law Number 20 of 2001 on corruption grafts include gifts given to state officials and civil servants in the form of money, goods, price discounts, commissions, loans without interests, travel tickets, accommodation facility, tour service, free medical service and others.
State employees and officials include civil servants, military/police officers, state-owned, regional government-owned company employees and state institution officials.
Minister Yuddy Chrisnandi has also prohibited civil servants to use official cars for the purpose of traveling home or "mudik" in local term to celebrate Lebaran.
"Before we still tolerated and only gave a reprimand to those using officials cars for mudik but now if they do they will be demoted or have their positions relinquished," the minister said in Banyuwangi recently.
Civil servants will be among millions of people in the country who will travel for the long holiday which will practically start on Saturday (July 2) until Sunday (July 10).
The district head of Banyuwangi in East Java, Abdullah Azwar Anas, has said he will abide by the ministers call adding that he has already prohibited the use of official cars for Lebaran for the past two years.
He said he has ordered all official cars to be parked at the districts administration compound during the holiday.
"We have implemented it long. All official cars are not allowed to be used for Lebaran except those used for specific purposes such as by transportation, tourism or sanitary services," he said.
The provincial government of West Nusa Tenggara Barat has also prohibited civil servants in the province to use official cars for Lebaran.
"Official cars may not be used for private interests in line with the directives of the governor including for Lebaran," the head of employee, training and education affairs of the province, Abdul Hakim, said.
West Java governor Ahmad Heryawan also agreed with the instruction of minister Yuddy Chrisnandi on official cars.
"I agree with the minister and since I assumed the post I have prohibited the use of official cars for mudik," he said.
He said the prohibition has been effective for the past eight years in the province.
"The ministers instruction matches with the decision of the West Java administration," he said adding that "official cars are for official purposes and so when they are not used so they are no longer official ones."
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has also appealed to all state officials to not use official cars for private interests including Lebaran.
"We appeal to all government agencies to prohibit official cars for use outside the official purposes," KPKs director of gratification, Giri Suprapdiono, has said.
"Community members who see officials using official cars may report it to us," he said.
Erstanto Windiolelono, head of the district court of Tembilahan, Riau Province, has been relegated to the post of non-court judge at the high court of Ambon, Maluku, over Lebaran allowance (THR) case.
"The decision was made yesterday (June 28) to impose a heavy punishment on him," Supreme Court spokesman Suhadi revealed here on Wednesday.
It happened following the distribution of an official letter requesting companies to give THR to his office.
Suhadi pointed out that Erstantos action went against the order of the government and the Supreme Court in 2013 that court officials are not allowed to receive gratuities, including Lebaran gifts.
"He has not received but has even asked for one, and so, he has clearly violated disciplinary rules and the code of ethics," he stated.
In view of this, the Supreme Court has decided to relieve Erstanto of his position as head of Tembilahan District Court and to impose stringent punishment by demoting him to the post of non-court judge in the High Court of Ambon, Maluku, and he will not receive judge allowance during suspension.
(T.KR-BSR/A014)
Reporter: Yoseph Hariyadi
Editor: Kunto Wibisono
Copyright © ANTARA 2016
