JAKARTA — An Indonesian lawmaker has strongly opposed a proposal to eliminate state financial loss as a legal benchmark for prosecuting graft, warning that such a move would trigger rampant corruption across government institutions. Hasbiallah Ilyas, a member of the parliamentary commission overseeing legal affairs, firmly rejected a recent recommendation by National Economic Council Chair Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, arguing the idea is fundamentally detached from the country’s current reality regarding law enforcement.
The debate centers on the legal definition of corruption under Indonesia's existing statutes, which heavily weigh whether an act has caused direct financial damage to the national treasury. While Pandjaitan recently floated the idea of dropping this specific metric—presumably to streamline governance and protect well-meaning officials from criminalization—Ilyas, representing the National Awakening Party (PKB), cautioned that removing this critical legal hurdle would embolden public officials to misuse their authority.
"If the element of state loss is eliminated, I am worried that corruption will actually become even more rampant," Ilyas said in a public statement. "Officials could become increasingly brazen in committing corruption because one of the essential elements in the enforcement of anti-corruption laws has been altered."
The parliamentary member emphasized that any national anti-corruption strategy must accurately reflect the on-the-ground reality of Indonesian public administration. According to the lawmaker, the nation still urgently requires stricter oversight of state budgets, firmer law enforcement, and significantly enhanced integrity among public servants. He warned against treating corruption solely as a bottleneck to business and corporate investment, stressing that public sector accountability must remain paramount in all policy discussions.
"Do not look at the issue of corruption only from a business and enterprise perspective," he said. "We must view this problem comprehensively, especially corruption within the government sector. The money managed by the government is the people's money, which must be accounted for."
While acknowledging that Indonesia's legal framework should evolve in alignment with global standards, such as the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), Ilyas maintained that domestic implementation must prioritize practical effectiveness. Indonesia has ratified the international convention, but the lawmaker argued that adopting external frameworks should not inadvertently create loopholes that weaken domestic law enforcement capabilities or benefit corrupt politicians.
Instead of altering the core elements of the current Anti-Corruption Law, the country desperately needs a legal system that delivers a powerful deterrent effect, according to the commission member. He urged policymakers and stakeholders to concentrate on improving the current system through better preventative measures and stronger accountability for state administrators, rather than rewriting the foundational rules of financial crimes.
"Our spirit should be to strengthen the eradication of corruption, not weaken it," Ilyas said. "We must not let regulatory changes provide greater opportunities for officials who abuse their authority."