Skip to main content

Work Hard? Nah. In Indonesia It’s Who You Know, Not What You Know

NGL… Indonesia Feels Stuck Because of Corruption & Nepotism

Sometimes I ask myself: why does it feel like no matter how hard people try, Indonesia keeps running on the same toxic habits? Two things keep showing up in my daily frustrations: corruption and nepotism.

It’s like—everyone knows it’s bad, but we just laugh it off. Almost like it’s part of our “local wisdom.” And honestly? That mindset drives me nuts.

1. Corruption: “Just slip them some money”

Want something done faster? Pay a little extra. Want to avoid a fine? Just hand over some “coffee money.” It’s so normalized that people joke about it like it’s a life hack.

But here’s the thing—fact is, Indonesia still sits at 110th out of 180 countries on the Corruption Perception Index (2023). That basically means corruption is still everywhere, from the top level to everyday interactions.
Meanwhile, Singapore ranked 5th. Over there, if a public official dares to take a bribe, the consequences are real and immediate. The government pays good salaries, but more importantly, they enforce the law consistently.

So while in Indonesia you “pay extra” to get things moving, in Singapore, the system itself is designed to move without needing bribes.

2. Nepotism: “Do you know someone inside?”

Let’s be honest—sometimes in Indonesia, getting ahead isn’t about talent or hard work, it’s about who you know. You can be the best candidate, but if the boss’s cousin also applies… well, you already know the ending.

And fact is, surveys show that 65% of Indonesian professionals believe nepotism plays a big role in hiring and promotions.
On the other hand, Singapore pushes meritocracy. Sure, no country is 100% perfect, but generally, your skills matter more than your family name. That’s why so many ambitious young people want to build careers there.

So while in Indonesia you might polish your CV endlessly, in Singapore, polishing your skills actually pays off.

3. Why This Hits Hard

Here’s what hurts: I know so many talented Indonesians who feel they have no choice but to leave. They’re tired of playing this unfair game. And honestly? I don’t blame them.

Because fact is, Indonesia loses around 600,000 skilled workers every year due to brain drain.
Meanwhile, Singapore—despite being small and having almost no natural resources—consistently ranks among the best countries to work in, mainly because the system feels fair and transparent.

It’s wild when you think about it: Indonesia has everything—land, resources, people. Singapore has none of that, but fairness alone gives them a head start.

So yeah, maybe this sounds like a rant. But for me, it’s not about hating on Indonesia—it’s about wanting better.

If Singapore can prove that fairness and strict systems work, why can’t we at least try? 

I’m just waiting for the day when I don’t have to hear: “Just pay extra lah, that’s normal here.” Because normal doesn’t always mean right.


Comments

Post a Comment

Drop your thoughts ✨ no spam, just good vibes. I read every comment!

Popular posts from this blog

Series: Boss vs Leader || Episode 1: Si Senior Strategis yang Diam-diam Bikin Gue Melek

Episode 1: Si Senior Strategis yang Diam-diam Bikin Gue Melek Jujur ya, dari 4 tahun kerja, gue makin sadar kalau nggak semua mentor itu bentuknya kayak “motivator” yang teriak-teriak di depan atau selalu sibuk kasih wejangan. Ada juga tipe mentor yang ngajarin lo lewat cara mereka nge- play the game . Dan episode pertama ini, gue mau cerita tentang salah satu atasan paling senior yang pernah gue temuin. Beliau ini udah kerja puluhan tahun, literally mungkin 30 tahunan lebih. Dari vibe sehari-harinya, jelas banget dia bukan tipe yang doyan cari spotlight. Nggak ada tuh gaya “nyari muka ke bos lebih gede”. Justru kebalikannya: low-key, tenang, tapi super strategis. Cara ngomongnya singkat, to the point, dan jelas banget kalau dia udah kebal sama politik kantor. Dan anehnya ya, justru karena itulah semua orang respect. Dia disegani bukan cuma karena senioritas, tapi karena kontribusinya gede banget. Kalau ada dia di ruang meeting, semua orang otomatis ngedengerin. Aura “gue tau apa ya...
Post a Comment
Read more

Series: Career Plot Twist

Perjalanan Karierku: Dari Arsitektur ke Dunia Kerja Kalau ditanya, “Kenapa sih dulu ambil arsitektur?” Jawabannya simpel: gue suka desain, suka bikin sesuatu yang nyata, bukan cuma teori di atas kertas. Gue kuliah arsitektur dari 2017 sampai 2021. Dan sekarang, di 2025, gue udah masuk tahun ke-4 berkarier setelah lulus. Waktu kuliah, gue bukan tipikal anak himpunan. Bukan karena anti-sosial, tapi menurut gue atmosfernya terlalu senioritas dan nggak nyambung sama tujuan pribadi gue. Gue lebih milih ikut workshop jurusan, atau ambil project-project kecil dari luar. Kadang dari rumah tinggal, kadang dari instansi—kebanyakan sih dari dosen yang percaya sama kemampuan gue. Dan hasilnya? Habis buat biaya maket skripsi, dong. Circle of life anak arsitektur banget kan: cari project, dapat duit, duitnya balik lagi ke maket. Repeat until lulus 🤣. Nah, setelah lulus, dimulailah perjalanan karier gue. Dari interior, loncat ke telekomunikasi, balik lagi ke dunia 3D, sampai sekarang siap buk...
Post a Comment
Read more

Semua Orang Sibuk Menjadi Pusat

Kadang lucu ya, gimana sebuah kumpulan orang yang sebenarnya baik-baik aja, bisa bikin kita ngerasa kayak… “kok gue capek sendiri ya?” Padahal gak ada yang salah. Semuanya ramah, care, sering bantu, dan kalau dilihat dari luar, hubungan ini kelihatan healthy banget. Tapi makin sering lo duduk di antara mereka, makin lo sadar: semua perhatian kayak punya satu arah. Selalu ada satu orang yang entah kenapa jadi pusat orbit. Kalau dia ngomong, semua nyimak. Kalau dia datang, semua bersemangat. Kalau dia absen, semua bahas. Meanwhile kalau lo cerita sesuatu? Reaksinya: “oh ya?” — lalu ganti topik. Awalnya lo mikir, yaudah deh. Bukan masalah besar juga. Lo bukan tipe orang yang haus perhatian. Lo cukup senang jadi bagian dari lingkaran yang solid. Tapi makin hari, makin terasa bedanya. Kayak lo hadir, tapi gak benar-benar ada. Suatu hari, lo ngalamin momen yang cukup nyantol di kepala. Waktu itu rencananya bareng-bareng ke luar kota — semacam trip kecil buat refreshing baren...
Post a Comment
Read more