Koster Affirms ASN Donations For Flood Assistance Are Not Mandatory
DENPASAR - Bali Governor Wayan Koster conveyed that donations from employees at local government institutions for flood assistance were not mandatory.
Koster conveyed this in response to the circulation of messages containing donation rates charged to state civil servants (ASN) within the Bali Provincial Government with a nominal value of IDR 150 thousand to IDR 1 million more according to office, starting from PPPK.
"It's a voluntary mutual cooperation fund, if you want to join, go ahead, otherwise it's okay," he said, Thursday, September 18.
It is known that the directives circulating on social media have received a lot of attention, because there are tariffs that are regulated without official decrees and ASN that are viral feel burdened.
Governor Koster said this donation was mutual cooperation in the midst of a disaster, not to mention that at the end of 2025, Bali will return to the rainy season which has the potential to cause disasters, so that the voluntary funds will be very useful.
The Bali Provincial Government is also grateful, because apart from ASN, there is also assistance from the Financial Services Authority (OJK) amounting to Rp200 million, the Financial Services Institute Communication Forum (FKLJK) Rp100 million, and the Bali BPD Board of Directors Rp400 million.
For this reason, according to him, it is natural for ASN, especially high-ranking officials in local governments, to contribute.
"Yes, it's natural, because there are people who have a large income, such as the head of the service, like I love Rp. 50 million, right, there is a willingness, if it's not that much, it's okay, it doesn't (donate), it doesn't matter either," he said.
The Governor of Bali admitted that he deliberately did not make an official decree to collect donations, because this is a mutual aid levy, not a mandatory request.
Collecting donations from the ranks of its employees is nothing new, when COVID-19 does the same thing, also by donating the same money, namely the governor Rp50 million and the deputy governor Rp25 million.
Asked about the use of foreign tourist levies (PWA) for recovery after a large flood, according to him, will not be carried out.
This is because the levy of foreign tourists is not intended for disasters, but to support the culture and environment managed by traditional villages.
Confirmed separately, Bali Mandara Hospital Director I Gusti Ngurah Putra Dharma Jaya said his staff had no problem with collecting these donations.
"No one feels burdened, instead work hand in hand to help," he said, quoted by ANTARA.
At the Bali Provincial Government hospital, PPPK employees are set to donate Rp. 150,000 and the highest is the Hospital Director of Rp. 2 million.
"We at RSBM strongly support the idea of the Governor regarding this activity as a form of concern for the people who were hit by the disaster," he said.