A New Approach to Preventing Corruption in Indonesia: A Study of the TP4 in Central Java, Indonesia

This article scrutinises the Escorting and Safeguarding Team to Governance and Development (TP4), a newly established prosecutor task force in Indonesia appointed to supervise government projects. Its effects in curbing the corruption that has plagued said projects and boosting the budget absorption of the Indonesian government are also explored. The research is conducted as a quantitative case study to the works of the regional TP4 of Central Java during the period of January 2016 until July 2018. The TP4 was established by the High Prosecutor Office of Central Java in 2016. The findings of this study show that the establishment of the TP4 in Central Java has contributed to the exponential increase in budget absorption rates and has drastically reduced the level of corruption crimes. The research also shows that such achievements are due to the 2 roles played by the TP4: As a legal advisor, it extends exhaustive support mechanisms; as a legal inspectorate, it has exhaustive alternative legal settlement mechanisms. Hence, we contend that the TP4 has proven its efficiency in achieving 2 seemingly contradictory goals (i.e., curbing and preventing corruption while enabling bureaucrats to progress with their projects without fearing corruption indictment). However, we also acknowledge the limitations of this study, as only statistical data have measured the progress of the TP4. Because of this, we suggest that progress cannot be solely determined by numbers but also by indications of positive behavioural reform within the Indonesian bureaucracy. Thus, further research is required on this topic.