- Get link
- X
- Other Apps
in Indonesian usage, “oknum” is often intentionally vague and cautious, meaning “a certain unidentified person within a group who may have done something wrong”—not necessarily proven.
Based on the sources provided and our previous discussion, here is the English translation of the article regarding the definition and usage of the term **"oknum"**:
***
Based on the available sources, the word **"oknum"** possesses a broad range of meanings, spanning from dictionary definitions to its strategic use as a tool of language politics in Indonesia. Below is a detailed breakdown of its definitions:
### 1. Etymological and Lexical Definition (KBBI)
Etymologically, the word *oknum* is derived from the Arabic ***أُقْنُوم (ʾuqnūm)***, meaning **individual or person** [1]. According to the Great Dictionary of the Indonesian Language (KBBI), this word has three primary meanings:
* **Catholic Religious Context:** A person of the Godhead (for example, in the concept of the Trinity) [1, 2].
* **General Context:** An individual or person [1, 2].
* **Negative Context:** A person or element with a **negative connotation** [1, 2].
Linguist Ivan Lanin explains that in an organizational context, the third definition refers to an individual who is part of a large organization but commits acts that violate the values of that organization [1, 3].
### 2. Functional Definition in Media and Institutions
In practice within Indonesia, the term *oknum* is frequently used as a **reference for perpetrators of criminal acts who are affiliated with specific institutions**, such as "oknum polisi" (rogue police) or "oknum TNI" (rogue military) [4, 5].
* **Separation of Responsibility:** The use of this term aims to isolate the bad behavior of an individual from the institution that houses them [6]. By labeling a perpetrator as an *oknum*, the implication is that the act is personal and does not represent the institution as a whole [7, 8].
* **Protector of Reputation:** This strategy, often called **"oknumisasi,"** is used by authorities (government, police, military) to maintain the "sanctity" and reputation of the institution despite the transgressions of its members [9, 10].
### 3. Historical and Political Language Context
The term *oknum* is a **legacy of New Order era language politics** [10, 11].
* **Early History:** It was first popularized by Mochtar Lubis in 1969 to refer to corruptors from the Old Order and members of the PKI (Indonesian Communist Party) who needed to be "purged" [12].
* **Euphemism:** During the New Order, the use of this word became a form of **euphemism** (softening of meaning) to protect the image of the state apparatus (police/military) so it would not be tainted by the criminal actions of its members [7, 10, 13].
### 4. Semantic Shift and Public Criticism
Currently, the meaning of *oknum* is considered to have undergone **pejoration**, or a shift toward a worse meaning in the eyes of the public [3].
* **Critique of Impunity:** The use of the word is often criticized as a way for institutions to **"wash their hands"** or avoid structural responsibility and systemic reform [3, 14, 15].
* **Public Reaction:** The proliferation of cases involving officials has triggered social phenomena such as the hashtag **#satuharisatuoknum** (one rogue element per day) and various memes suggesting that "oknum" have become the majority [2, 5, 16]. Amnesty International Indonesia has even stated that violence by authorities is often not merely the act of an *oknum*, but rather part of a **policy or systemic issue** [17].
Comments