The First Debate Of The Aceh Gubernatorial Election, The Special Autonomy Fund Is A Warm Discussion

JAKARTA - The extension of Aceh's special autonomy fund (Otsus) became a hot topic in the debate of the first candidate for the 2024 Aceh gubernatorial election (Pilgub), with the determination of each candidate to fight for the extension of the Special Autonomy fund.

This first debate was followed by all pairs of candidates for governor and deputy governor, namely number 1 Bustami Hamzah - M Fadhil Rahmi (Om Bus - Sheikh Fadhil) and serial number 2 Muzakir Manaf and Fadhullah (Mualem - Dek Fadh).

"We have a connection with the elected president now. We will meet him, will (try, ed) add special autonomy funds as much as possible, and also (fight, ed) to become permanent for Aceh," Malem said in a debate in Banda Aceh, Friday night.

This discussion stems from the question of the candidate pair for governor of Aceh number 1 who asked about the candidate pair strategy number 2 in an effort to extend the Aceh Special Autonomy fund which will end in 2027.

Mualem, who is a former GAM commander, also emphasized that he did not speak for the benefit of certain groups, but for the speciality of Aceh, especially since this candidate pair is considered to have a strong close relationship with President Prabowo Subianto.

"We are not talking about groups or groups, but here we are about Aceh's specialty, Aceh's interests," he said.

Meanwhile, Fadhlullah added that the extension of the special autonomy fund was a priority program that was in the vision and mission. He said, so far Aceh has received an injection of special autonomy funds, but it is still the poorest number one province in Sumatra and is ranked fifth poorest in Indonesia.

"Especially if there is no special autonomy fund. Therefore, we have special communication with the central government to realize (expansion, red) special autonomy funds," said Fadhlullah, who is also the chairman of the Aceh Gerindra DPD.

Responding to this, Bustami Hamzah (Om Bus) said that the president does not have a group, but belongs to all Indonesian people. Therefore, he said he also had his own way of fighting for the extension of the Aceh Special Autonomy, namely through Perppu.

"I have confidence, I also have a way to face him (the president, ed). Don't claim that this (president, ed) belongs to all of us. If I am elected, I will face the president, ask Perppu, Government Regulation in Lieu of Law for the extension of Aceh's special autonomy funds," he said.

To note, Aceh as a special area, received special autonomy funds from the peace period in 2008 and ended until 2027. From 2008 to 2022, the amount of special autonomy funds received by Aceh from the central government was two percent of the total national general allocation fund (DAU).

Then, from 2023 to 2027, the amount of Aceh's special autonomy funds will be one percent of the total national DAU.

In the 2024 Aceh Pilkada, there are only two pairs of candidates for Governor and Deputy Governor, namely number 1 Bustami Hamzah - M Fadhil Rahmi, and serial number 2 of the pair Muzakir Manaf and Fadhullah.

The Bustami-Fadhil pair were promoted by five political parties, namely NasDem, PAN, Golkar, and two local parties including the Aceh Prosperous Justice Party, and the Darul Aceh Party, a total of 29 out of 81 seats in the Aceh DPR.

Meanwhile, Muzakir Manaf-Fadhullah was promoted by a major coalition of joint local and national political parties, namely the Aceh Party, the Nanggroe Aceh Party (PNA), Gerindra, Democrats, PPP, PKS, PKB, and PDI Perjuangan with a total of 52 out of 81 seats in the Aceh DPR.

The number of permanent voters (DPT) for the 2024 Aceh Pilkada reached 3,764,944 people. Among them were 1,849,422 men and 1,915,522 women.