How The DPR 2019-2024 Faces The Challenges Of The Covid-19 Pandemic From The Budgeting Side

JAKARTA - The DPR RI for the 2019-2024 period experienced many challenges, especially in the function of budgeting. This is because during this DPR period, there was an extraordinary crisis, namely the Covid-19 pandemic that hit all sectors of life.

"In the 2019-2024 period, there is an extraordinary crisis, Covid. This is extraordinary and we appreciate the statesmanship of all DPR friends, we understand each other the importance of dealing with crises that must be responsive quickly," said Deputy Chairman of the DPR RI Budget Agency (Banggar) Cucun Ahmad Syamsurijal.

This was conveyed by Cucun after the last Plenary Meeting of the DPR for the 2019-2024 period at the Nusantara II Building, Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Monday 30 September.

At the beginning of the DPR RI's term of office for the 2020-2024 period, the global economy faced uncertainty, geopolitical turmoil, relatively volatile rupiah exchange rates and the trade era between the United States and China which began to enter the relaxation phase. The Indonesian economy is also experiencing a challenge, namely the Covid-19 pandemic.

From 2020 to 2021, the increase in Covid-19 cases was very significant and caused uncertainty about the end of the pandemic. The weakening in various economic sectors is due to large-scale social activity restrictions, so it requires extraordinary handling and policy steps but remains accountable.

The first step taken by the DPR RI in handling the Covid-19 pandemic is that the DPR RI approved various Government plans to refocus and reallocate a number of APBN budgets for the 2020 Fiscal Year.

The handling of the Covid-19 pandemic was carried out twice, namely through Presidential Regulation (Perpres) Number 54 of 2020 and then changed again to Presidential Decree Number 72 of 2020.

The Indonesian House of Representatives also ratified Government Regulation in Lieu of Law Number 1 of 2020 concerning Financial Policy and Stability of the Financial System for Handling the Covid-19 Pandemic into Law Number 2 of 2020 concerning State Financial Policy and Financial System Stability for the handling of the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) Pandemic and/or in order to face threats that endanger the National Economy and/or Financial System Stability.

Law Number 2 of 2020 aims to provide a legal basis for the Government and the Financial Authority in implementing policies and extraordinary steps in order to save the national economy and stability of the financial system.

According to Cucun, the DPR decided to use the automatic adjustment system for the function of state budgeting with the Covid-19 impact. He said the system was the right step taken by the DPR to carry out the budgeting function during Covid-19.

"We appreciate the statesmanship of all these DPR friends, how to understand the conditions so that the birth of the Perppu without any problems. Even though from the Perppu side, it is very dangerous because of uncontrol, yes," explained Cucun.

At that time, Cucun said, the Government's budget often widens the deficit so that there is a budget shift structure. The deficit itself is a state when the expenditure or obligation of an entity (such as the government, company, or individual) exceeds the receipt or income received.

"Yes, but because we understand each other, it is important to deal with a crisis that must be responsive quickly," said the legislator from the West Java II electoral district.

Cucun explained that Banggar DPR approved the Government's plan to take various steps to keep the country's economy stable.

"So at this time Banggar really thinks and together with the Minister of Finance who is ngurisin fiscal, BI we also touch to be heartened by the rest of the monetary system how when one factor, this is the global crisis, plus in this period geopolitical which is continuous," explained Cucun.

"But so far it has been maintained, although sometimes the issue is the raising of state debt. But if we look at the financial law, our country is still safe, it is still below 40 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP)," he added.

Cucun mengatakan, selama ini kerja sama DPR dengan Pemerintah berjalan dengan baik. Kendati demikian masih ada juga beberapa kendala yang dihadapi oleh DPR dalam melaksanakan fungsi pengawasan penggaran.

"There are also several Ministries/Agencies (K/L) who when asking for approval from their DPR go their own way. Because they use a law that has been slightly widened, the shift in the budget, especially those who worked on IKN yesterday, so they drained a lot of state money", explained Cucun.

"Even though it should, for example from the side of Commission V, have a full role to play in supervising how the money comes out. The output and outcome can really have an impact on the welfare of the people," he continued.

Regarding the swelling IKN budget, Cucun hopes that it will become an evaluation for the future. He emphasized that to build an area does not have to be done directly but can be continued gradually.

"If we use one principle of which rules are more important. So with a priority scale. We have given looseness for the next 15 years, it doesn't have to be completed this year, right? IKN, right," said Cucun.

Furthermore, Cucun reminded that the budget that has been given must be really useful, so that all budgets can be absorbed according to needs.

"For example, we give 100 trillion, if the absorption is only 50 trillion, it's a shame. Meanwhile, there are priorities for basic services for people rich in education, health. Now that's more of a priority," he said.

On the other hand, the process of discussing the APBN by the DPR for the 2019-2024 period with the Government based on political aspects continues to show a dynamic and democratic process and has succeeded in producing mutual political compromise. Since being inaugurated on October 1, 2019 until the term ends on September 30, 2024, the DPR RI has carried out its constitutional duties, namely compiling, discussing, and approving the APBN every year.

The DPR has completed the State Budget Law for Fiscal Year 2021 until the Draft Law on the State Budget for Fiscal Year 2025. The DPR for the 2019-2024 period has also completed the Semester 1 Report and Prognosis for the second semester of the 2020-2024 period and the Law on Accountability for the Implementation of the 2019 Fiscal State Budget until the 2023 Fiscal Year.

This means that the DPR has discussed as many as 5 bills for accountability for the implementation of the State Budget until the end of its term of office on September 30, 2024.