"Some experts said that gratuities are the root cause of corruption, so, (it is important to maintain) personal integrity to reject (gratuity). We must maintain our integrity and affirm to ourselves that receiving gratuities is not permissible," Furqon stated during a webinar on gratuity control, whistleblowing system, and conflict of interest handling hosted by the Directorate General of Higher Education, Research, and Technology observed here on Monday.
Apart from state civil apparatus, all other employees paid by the state budget, as enumerated in Law No. 43 of 1999 on State Employee, are also included in the gratuity ban, he pointed out.
The KPK official highlighted that according to the agency's integrity assessment survey of state employees at the central and regional government levels in 2019, some 91 percent of the assessment participants admitted to having received some form of gratuity.
"In our 2021 survey, the percentage of participants, who received gratuity, increased to 98 percent," Furqon noted.
Related news: Anti-graft body questions Jambi governor on gratification charges
Apart from the lack of personal integrity, he believes that suboptimal knowledge of gratuity was also causal to the high level of state employees receiving gratuities.
The chief investigator explained that any gifts presented by virtue of the recipient's job position and title and is in violation of duties and regulations, are deemed a gratuity that should not be accepted.
"Anything that state employees receive by virtue of their position and is in violation of duties and regulations is gratuity," Furqon remarked.
He reminded state apparatus to report every gratuity that they received, as it will not be considered to be a violation if a report of it is made to the KPK by 30 days at the latest since having received the gratuity.
"If state employees report the gratuity (they receive to the KPK) before the 30-working day deadline, it will not be considered a violation. Hence, utilise this opportunity properly," the KPK official remarked.
Apart from making a direct report to the KPK's gratuity report service, the state apparatus can also report their gratuity through the Gratifikasi Online application, he added.
Related news: KPK reminds state officials of compliance to report gratuities
Related news: Anti graft body detains 22 Malamg legislators on gratification charges
Translator: Tri Meilani A, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Suharto
Copyright © ANTARA 2022
