In Reply to: Korupsi posted by Si Gendut on Saturday, 22. January 2005 at 15:40 Bali Time:
your comments on the following. The new president has stated that one of his priorities is to crack down on corruption. It would be very easy to make a start with police corruption of various kinds in Bali by setting them up, eg someone wanting a statement for an insurance claim. I don't really like this kind of policing, but a start has to be made somewhere.
I will draw a possible correlation. In England about 50 years ago, many people were upset by the demanding way in which some hospitality workers went about getting tips, not as a fair reward for particularly attentive service, but at times almost in a stand-over fashion. It was defended by explaining that their pay was so inadequate that without generous tips they could not survive. I think this may have been true.
Could it be that some Balinese officials are not adequately paid and have to supplement their income? And it's easier for the government to knowingly allow this to continue than give them a pay rise?
I am not defending corruption, just asking a question.