Corruption and economic inequality are like a vicious circle. Both have a significant impact on each other. Unfortunately, growing discourse on corruption and its eradication rarely mention economic inequality as a crucial issue.

Indonesia Corruption Watch recorded 454 corruption cases in 2018. A survey by Transparency International in 2018 ranked Indonesia 89th on the corruption perception index, much worse than neighboring countries such as Malaysia ( 61 ), Singapore (3) and Brunei Darussalam ( 31 ).

On 13 September 2018 the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Administrative Reform and Bureaucratic Reform, and the National Civil Service Agency (BKN) issued a Joint Decree (SKB) regarding the dismissal of civil servants (PNS) who were caught of corruption. The decree is a follow-up to the discussion between the three institutions and the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on 4 September 2018.

The quality of the general elections is determined by quality of the organizers. This is what the General Elections Commission (KPU) has been doing since last year to prepare for the 2019 elections. The 2019 elections is the first elections held simultaneously to elect the president and vice-president, along with legislative members.

The Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) has released a list of 46 former corruption convicts who are registered as legislative candidates of the Provincial People's Representatives Council (DPRD) and the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) for the 2019-2024 period. This list has been updated through community input, from originally 38 identified candidates, later increasing to 40, and finally to 46 candidates identified as former corruption convicts.

Successive disasters have hit Indonesia. More than five major natural disasters occurred in 2018, including an earthquake, tsunami, volcanic eruption, landslide, flood, and soil liquefaction. Unfortunately, even though in the midst of disasters, corruption still occurs.

Indonesia's position surrounded by the Ring of Fire does make Indonesia prone to natural disasters. Almost every year disasters occur. In 2018, there were at least three major disasters, including the earthquake in Lombok, earthquake, tsunami, and liquefaction in Donggala, as well as the tsunami in Banten-Lampung.

The National Police Headquarters has created a Joint Fact Finding Team (TGPF) for the Novel Baswedan case. However, the team consisting of representatives of diverse groups is considered political and its effectiveness is doubted.

The Lauder Institute of the University of Pennsylvania, USA has released the 2017 Global Think Tank Index. There are four categories of top think tanks used to create the index: Top Think Tanks in the World, Top Think Tanks by Region, Top Think Tanks by Area of Research and Top Think Tanks by Special Achievement. Top Transparency and Good Governance Think Tanks is a sub-category of Top Think Tanks by Area of Research.

The curse of natural resources is not only happening in Africa, but also Indonesia: a country with abundant natural resources, yet entangled in severe structural poverty. The chasm between the rich and poor is gaping. According to Bisnis Indonesia daily (September 24, 2016), the Gini ratio of land ownership in Indonesia in 2016 was close to 0.58, meaning that 1% of the population controls 59% of agrarian, land and spatial resources.

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) officially detained former Minister of Social Affairs, Idrus Marham, on Friday (31/8). He was detained after having been named a suspect in the alleged bribery in the Riau-1 Steam Power Plant (PLTU) project, last week. Idrus was named a suspect by the KPK with the suspicion of using his influence as the Secretary General of the Golkar Party in the power plant project.

The head of the Sukamiskin Prison, Wahid Husen was arrested in a raid operation by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), on Saturday, 21 July 2018. It was suspected that the head of the prison has received bribes in relation to facilities and exit permits for the prisoners.