Indonesian police and its Corruption Eradication Commission (Komisi Pemberantasan Korupsi in Indonesian, or KPK) are both supposed to be tackling the country's endemic corruption. But at present, they seem to be spending more time fighting each other. The police just upped the ante in the long-running feud by arresting Bambang Widjojanto, a board member of the KPK, on charges of false testimony in a case five years ago. This was prompted by the KPK's naming of Budi Gunawan, sole pick to be the next national police chief, as a suspect in a bribery case.

The real losers in these bitter infighting are the Indonesian people. The anti-corruption law seems to be having little effect, especially when the regulators themselves work hand-in-hand with corrupt actors.

Many forums have been held to discuss the impact of corruption. Unfortunately, they define the issue in such complex terms that lay people become confused, whereas in practice, corruption creeps into everyday life for almost everyone. Ironically, even some of the anti-corruption experts have been detained by the KPK.

Indonesia can look to the example of neighboring countries to find examples of the battle about corruption. Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong recently stressed the importance of government officials to maintain public confidence. Lee, the son of Singapore's founder Lee Kuan Yew, is vehemently opposed to bribery and nepotism. He also said that Singapore would never let up on corruption because once it laid down roots, it would be fiercely difficult to eliminate.

The government of Singapore has an anti-corruption agency called Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau, which superficially resembles the KPK. But unlike the KPK, it gets considerable support from the Singaporean government rather than becoming caught up in political tangles.

Many Singaporean government measures involve community participation to prevent corruption. Social reports are taken seriously, whether they involve government departments or private firms. In the meantime, reports in Indonesia often seem to be ignored and there is no accurate data provided on the follow-up of reports from the public, whether they involve the public or private sector.

As a developing country, Indonesia must be willing to follow the example of developed countries and regions and implement anti-corruption culture as a key value for the entire community. Rampant corruption can only mean the poor getting poorer.

China can also be an example for Indonesia in implementing strict laws for corruption. The Chinese mainland has the death penalty for corruption cases. Hong Kong also managed to escape rampant corruption in the early 1970s and transform itself into a clean society. It has now been ranked as one of the cleanest areas in the world since 1980.

The ICAC (Independent Commission Against Corruption) brought Hong Kong to its current conditions through strong political support from the government and society. In addition, the ICAC has a well-planned strategy, integrated, holistic and consistent so that it can contribute significantly to changing the culture of corruption that previously dominated the islands.

In Indonesia, the dispute between law enforcement agencies shows the world that Indonesia has yet to implement a system of good governance. The squabbling endangers public confidence and empowers criminals.

If there are legal violations, they should be resolved objectively based on the rule of law and should avoid political element that actually affects the images of law enforcement agencies themselves. Regulators are still human, and they need to be monitored themselves under the law, but not in a way that causes endless political feuds to drag on. But right now the feud is still continuing, ultimately helping neither side.

Corruption will only bring shame to the nation of Indonesia in the eyes of the international community and create suffering for the people. Only the perpetrators of corruption win in such a scenario.

The author is a journalist for Riauposting.com in Indonesia. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn