The potential of villages is strategicSemarang, Central Java (ANTARA) - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) launched the 2022 Anti-Corruption Villages in Banyubiru Village, Semarang District, Central Java, on Tuesday, by raising the theme of "Start From Our Villages to Make Indonesia Free From Corruption."
The launch was conducted directly by KPK Chairperson Firli Bahuri; Minister of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration Abdul Halim Iskandar; Deputy for Education and Community Participation of the KPK Wawan Wardiana; Inspector General of the Ministry of Finance Awan Nurmawan Nuh; Director General of Village Government at the Ministry of Home Affairs Eko Prasetyanto Purnomo Putro; Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo; and village heads from 10 pilot anti-corruption villages.
On that occasion, Bahuri stated that efforts to eradicate corruption could not only be made by one institution. To this end, the commission is encouraging the participation of all parties, including the community, in the efforts to eradicate corruption.
"The potential of villages is strategic," he remarked here on Tuesday.
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According to Bahuri, corruption violates the rights of people, who are sometimes not aware of it. In fact, he affirmed that the state's goals would fail if it allowed corruption to occur.
"For this reason, the KPK implements the corruption eradication strategy through community education, one of which is carried out through the Anti-Corruption Villages Program," he added.
At Tuesday's event, Minister Iskandar noted that the collaboration is deemed crucial, as the Ministry of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration cannot supervise the 74,961 villages in Indonesia alone.
He lauded the Anti-Corruption Villages Program, which is deemed to continue to run, so that concerns about mismanagement of village funds will decrease.
"All of these would be even faster if the KPK participates in various village development programs through the Anti-Corruption Villages Program," the minister remarked.
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Banyubiru has been selected as the village with the highest score, at a total of 93.25, in the establishment of anti-corruption villages in 2022.
The Anti-Corruption Villages Program was initiated by the KPK in collaboration with the Ministry of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions, and Transmigration; Ministry of Home Affairs; and the Ministry of Finance. The program was first launched in 2021 by selecting Panggungharjo Village in Bantul, Yogyakarta, as the pilot village.
In 2022, the KPK chose 10 villages from 10 provinces for the pilot anti-corruption villages program. The program was implemented on account of the high amount of village funds provided by the central government, reaching Rp468.9 trillion, in 2022.
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Translator: Wisnu Adhi, Raka Adji
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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