Working Meeting In Yogya Criticized By Novel Cs, KPK Leader Ghufron: Distribution Of APBN To Regions, Next Year In Different Places

JAKARTA - The head of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) explained the reasons for holding a work meeting (raker) for 27 October-29 October 2021 at the Sheraton Mustika Hotel Yogyakarta. One of the reasons is so that the APBN can be distributed to the regions.

"If we only spend it in Jakarta, then the regions will not be able to absorb or use it, so we carry it out in Yogyakarta," said KPK Deputy Chair Nurul Ghufron when met on the sidelines of the KPK Working Meeting in Yogyakarta, Thursday, October 28.

There are three main agendas for working together in Yogyakarta. Starting from the performance review meeting, evaluating the process of changing the status of KPK employees to ASN, and finally the preparation of a new structure after the anti-corruption agency employees turned into ASN.

The KPK, said Ghufron, is part of the constitutional structure that also uses APBN funds, some of which are collected from revenues sourced from public money.

"The function of the state budget is distribution, that money collected from the people must be distributed as widely as possible to the people," he said.

According to him, the meeting outside the KPK building in Jakarta, even outside the region, is not the first time it has been held. In 2020, the meeting was held in Bandung, West Java.

"Next year may be in a different place. All of that is to distribute so that state funds or finances can be absorbed in the regions," he said as quoted by Antara.

Previously, the work meeting activity drew a lot of criticism, including from a number of former KPK structural officials who considered it unethical to hold work meetings at luxury hotels in the midst of the current pandemic situation.

Ghufron emphasized that as in previous years a number of meeting activities outside the region were attended by all employees, including structural officials who are now no longer part of the KPK.

"For example, Pak Giri (Giri Suprapdiono) used to be the Director of Dikmas (Education and Community Service) they also participated, Pak Koko (Sujanarko) also participated, Mas Febri as the Head of Public Relations of the KPK also participated. So (followed by) all structures. Not only today before "Earlier, when they were still part of the KPK, they also participated," he said.

"So if you are criticized now, you can draw your own conclusions," said Ghufron to the media crew.

On the same occasion, Deputy Chairperson of the KPK Alexander Marwata added that the selection of the location for the work meeting in Yogyakarta was part of supporting the government's program in national economic recovery in the midst of a pandemic through tourism.

Yogyakarta was chosen because it is one of the tourist destinations. "This is our consideration in deciding the activity to be carried out in Yogyakarta," he said.

Although it was held at the Sheraton Hotel Yogyakarta, which is classified as a five-star hotel, Alexander ensured that the costs spent were still within the KPK budget ceiling, which had been prepared in a transparent manner and was ready to be accounted for.

"Five stars, but if the rates are three stars, why not, friends, you can ask the hotel," he said.

The KPK, he said, would not be able to organize activities with costs exceeding the budget ceiling provided.

"Once again, this is a work plan that we have prepared in advance, not impromptu," he said.

Alexander hopes that organizing activities outside the region such as in Yogyakarta will be able to build togetherness and unify the vision between the leadership and structural officials within the KPK.

If it is only held at the KPK Office in Jakarta, he is worried that the agenda for unifying the vision and togetherness will not run optimally.

"Because most of the people involved (KPK officials) live in Jakarta and sometimes come back in the afternoon. That's what happens when we do it at the office and I think that many other government institutions do programs like this," he said. .