Following Wilmar Group's example, Indonesia public now depositing funds for future corruption cases

Inspired by the Wilmar Group’s move to deposit trillions of rupiah with the Attorney General’s Office in case they’re found guilty of corruption in the future, ordinary Indonesians are now following suit.

Across cities in Indonesia, citizens have begun voluntarily placing money into a government initiative with what’s being called the “Future Corruption Fund” (DKMD - Dana Korupsi Masa Depan) — an account designed to be automatically disbursed when the next corruption scandal involving taxpayer money is uncovered. The idea is simple: any state losses from the next scandal will be limited to the amount in the fund. If the losses exceed it, the government will cover the rest — meaning Indonesians won’t face additional tax burdens beyond what they’ve already paid in and lost to corruption.

“This way, corruption becomes a planned household expense. People can budget for it,” 

Economists say the initiative could help stabilize financial expectations and the economy. “This way, corruption becomes a planned household expense. People can plan and budget for it,” said one analyst. "I used to worry how much of my taxpayer money the next corruption scandal will cost me," said Pak Budi, an Indonesian fisherman who invested the minimum amount required for the fund. "With this initiative, I think I can finally relax."

However, not all experts agree. “It feels like Indonesians are paying for corruption twice — once through taxes, and again through this fund,” said another economist. When asked for a statement, a government spokesperson responded: “No comment.”