Wondering if you’re corrupt? In Indonesia there’s an app for that

JAKARTA, Indonesia — Let’s say you work for a government agency. You’re in charge of buying computers for the office, and you’re asked to call private companies for bids. One of the interested companies’ representatives gives you a brand new laptop. “It’s just for you,” he says. “Please accept it as gratitude for helping me win the tender,” he adds.

What do you do?

It was a brand new “Kasio” laptop, and the guy seemed nice, so we just took it. A seemingly non-judgmental robot showed up, and asked whether we wished to report what had happened. We said no. The robot was not happy. “You have to maintain your integrity,” it said. 

Because, see, what just happened is not fine. The nice guy just bribed us.

This is one of the things you learn when using Indonesia’s anti-corruption agency’s new app.

Why an app?

Because it turns out that many in Indonesia are not aware that giving or receiving gifts in such situations is an offense, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) says. Through the app, the KPK, which also launched its own TV channel over the summer, hopes to raise awareness on low-level and common graft.

“Corruption is widespread when it comes to winning public contracts or obtaining business licenses,” explains Wahyudi, who uses one name and is a program coordinator for Transparency International in Jakarta. It’s almost impossible to start a business without having to bribe someone, and people are often expected to pay public servants for services that should be free.

The app features a theme park and includes animated quizzes, graphs and explanations to teach the general public and officials what’s okay and what’s not in terms of receiving and giving presents, explains KPK spokesperson Johan Budi. It also includes games, such as “catch the corruptor,” and one in which you have to avoid or catch gifts according to whether you think they’re bribes.

Just a tip: bars of gold and trips to the Leaning Tower of Pisa are not okay.

The app was launched in early October.

That seems to be a shame for the governor of Riau, a province in Sumatra. Had the app been released earlier, Annas Maamun would have maybe deduced that receiving 2 billion Indonesian rupees ($166,000) from a palm oil businessman in exchange for a permit to exploit forest area was an offense.

“I’m sorry, I’m sick,” said the 74-year-old while breaking down in tears at the KPK agency on Wednesday.

Not that one would assume he would have learned from the two previous Riau governors, who were both implicated in graft cases. Not that he could have gotten a hint from the fact that, just six months ago, his direct predecessor was sentenced to 14 years in jail for very similar charges.

Annas Maamun, who was detained by the KPK in September, is just the latest high-ranking official arrested by the agency. Corruption is a major issue in Indonesia, and as “problematic” at local and national levels, explains Wahyudi.

Indonesia ranked 114 out of 177 countries surveyed in Transparency International’s latest Global Corruption Perceptions Index.

The KPK, which focuses on high-level corruption, is hugely popular in the country, and surprisingly efficient. Since the agency was founded in 2002, it has arrested nearly 400 people.

Corruption cases make headlines every month or so. Recent cases include the energy minister being named a suspect in September, the sport minister jailed for four years in July, and the religious affairs minister stepping down in July after being accused of misusing Haj pilgrimage funds.

The country’s recently inaugurated president Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, who has a reputation as a “clean” politician, has promised a series of measures to tackle corruption. After the energy minister was named a suspect, he said he would set up an “anti-mafia” task force to deal with corruption in the sale of oil and gas. Jokowi also moved tax collections online as a governor of Jakarta, and has announced he will do the same at the national level.

The KPK's Johan Budi admits some officials probably don’t need an app to tell them they’re corrupt. But he says that while corruption is indeed widespread in Indonesia, the country's efforts to fight graft could make it “an example for others.”

“In Indonesia today no one is above the law, even at the highest levels of power,” he says.