Jokowi Makes Visits And Distributes Aid Ahead Of The 2024 Presidential Election, Sri Mulyani Reveals Funds Used

JAKARTA - Finance Minister Sri Mulyani opened her voice regarding the origin of the budget source used by President Joko Widodo or Jokowi for visits to several parts of Indonesia before the 2024 presidential election (pilpres).

According to Sri Mulyani, the assistance provided by Jokowi to the public was not sourced from social protection funds (perlinsos) but came from the president's operational funds, the source of state revenue and expenditure (APBN).

"The budget for the president's visit and the budget for public assistance from the president comes from the president's operational funds originating from the state budget," he said at a hearing on the dispute over General Election Results (PHPU) or the 2024 presidential election, Friday, April 5, 2024.

Sri Mulyani explained that the president's operational funds are regulated in the Minister of Finance Regulation (PMK) Number 48 of 2008 which was amended by PMK Number 106 of 2008.

"Meanwhile, presidential social funds are regulated in the Minister of State Secretary Regulation (Permensesneg) Number 2 of 2020," he said.

Sri Mulyani conveyed activities that included social funds by the president and vice president, namely religious activities, education, social, economic, cultural, criminalization, women's empowerment, sports, and other activities on the orders of the president and vice president.

"This assistance can be provided in the form of goods and money," he said.

In addition, Sri Mulyani said that Jokowi's budget for working visits in early 2024 still came from the 2024 APBN budget.

"The 2024 APBN, namely Law number 19 of 2023 which was passed down with Presidential Decree 76/2023, has issued its Presidential Decree in November 2023, so before the fiscal year starts the Presidential Decree, it will be completed," he explained.

On the other hand, Sri Mulyani explained that Jokowi symbolically handed over the Budget Implementation List (DIPA) to ministers and regional heads on November 29, 2023.

"Thus, all ministries/agencies as well as local governments can implement their budget starting January 1," he said.

Sri Mulyani added that the budget given to each ministry/institution (K/L) or local government came from transfers to local governments.

Sri Mulyani explained that the presidential operating fund budget in 2019 was IDR 110 billion with a realization of IDR 57.2 billion or 52 percent.

Meanwhile, the presidential operating fund budget in 2020 is IDR 116.2 billion with a realization of IDR 77.9 billion or 67 percent.

Meanwhile, in 2021, the presidential operating fund budget will be IDR 116.2 billion with a realization of IDR 77.9 billion or 67 percent.

Then in 2022 the presidential operating fund budget is IDR 160.9 billion with the realization of IDR 138.3 billion or 86 percent.

"In 2023, the budget allocation is Rp. 156.5 billion, the realization is Rp. 127.8 billion or 82 percent and in 2024 this is the budget allocation for the president's operational funds and social assistance of Rp. 138.3 billion and until this month March-April is Rp. 18.7 billion or 14 percent," he concluded.