ZENBOOK

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...