Publish What You Pay Indonesia gave a positive appreciation for Indonesia’s Commitment in the 2016 London Anti-Corruption Summit which took place on May 12, 2016, last week. In the country statement document, Indonesia brings crucial issues that are currently becoming a public concern in the country, including regarding the transparency of the real ownership of business entities/companies popularly called beneficial ownership (BO) to prevent corruption, tax avoidance, terrorism financing, and money laundering practices. In the tax sector and fiscal transparency, Indonesia said it would implement the G20 principles of both procurement integrity standards and in the open data principle, while in the tax sector, Indonesia was committed to implementing the Common Reporting Standard and Addis Tax Initiative initiatives. Other commitments highlighted by the Government of Indonesia include, among others, whistle-blowers, asset recovery and recovery, anti-impunity, and the development of aspects of innovation, culture and anti-corruption education.

Maryati Abdullah, National Coordinator of Publish What You Pay Indonesia, said that Indonesia’s commitment stated in the international forum must be accompanied by concrete steps in the country through certain and measurable stages. For example, related to beneficial ownership transparency: The government must immediately realize more ‘clear and strict’ rules to encourage the principle, for example with provisions on the stock exchange, transparency of company ownership through the Director-General of AHU-Kemenkumham, as well as through other integrated Government regulations such as the application of the system Single Identity Number (SIN).

“In addition, reaffirming Indonesia’s commitment to the application of the Addis Tax Initiatives (ATI) which Indonesia is also a member of is also a positive step to ensure policy coherence for development, because it also contains a commitment to improve the taxation system and revenue management from the sector natural resources, “added Maryati in Jakarta.

The forum, which was attended by heads of state, government and parliamentary officials, and civil society organizations from nearly 40 countries in the world, produced a communique that emphasized that overcoming corruption is important for the sustainability of economic stability and growth, community security, protection of human rights, poverty reduction, environmental protection for future generations, and overcoming serious organized crime. No country is immune from corruption, therefore the Government needs to work together and partner with civil society, the private sector, and other strategic components. This challenge must be overcome with openness because it is a shared responsibility and commitment as it is the goal of sustainable development to substantially reduce the number of corruption and bribery in various forms, as well as strengthen confiscation efforts and return of corrupted assets (Goal 16 – SDGs).