'I'd Rather Pick Trash Than Be Corrupt': Indonesian Police Reward Honesty

Jakarta, 22 Ramadan 1437/2 June 2016 (MINA) – Many nations around the world offer awards for police bravery — in Indonesia it is police honesty that is gaining prestigious praise.

Seladi, 58, joined the Indonesian police force in Malang in East Java in 1977.

Next month he will be honoured by the national police chief — not for bravery, but for refusing to accept bribes, abc.net.au was quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

During his almost 40 years of service, Seladi has struggled to make ends meet and feed and educate his three children.

But he refuses to boost his $550 a month salary by accepting bribes in a nation where corruption is undeniably embedded within his profession.

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Instead, Seladi has shot to fame for moonlighting as a garbage dump scavenger, to gain an honest — although rather filthy — second income.

“I could use my uniform to get some money illegally if I want to,” Seladi said.

“But I would prefer to be a trash picker rather than being corrupt, using extortion or cheating people for money.”

Seladi has been a part-time rubbish scavenger since 2004. On average he earns the equivalent of $5 a day for the work.

Extra $420 a month as a reward

As for his police job, his time is largely spent in the driving license department, which to locals is known as the so-called ” wet department” where bribery is rife and the cash flows.

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“Rather than doing that, I earn the extra income collecting recyclable garbage, so I don’t make any harm or create trouble for other people,” Seladi said.

On July 1, Seladi will receive an award for honesty — a gesture which he says makes him “happy”.

He would be happy too, because a member of Indonesia’s Parliament, Bambang Susatyo, on hearing Seladi’s story, agreed to give him his base monthly salary for the remainder of the year.

“I did not expect that actually, but if that promise turns real I will use that money for my family and to pay my debts,” Seladi said.

It is the real deal — and Seladi is receiving an extra $420 a month direct to a newly-opened bank account.

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But he still will not be giving up either of his day jobs.

“My name is Seladi, it means ‘be safe on the street or in the afterlife,’ Amen,” he said. (T/R07/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)