Asks Purbaya Not To Cut The Special Autonomy Fund, Minister Pigai: That's The State's Recognition Of Regional Participation

Human Rights Minister (HAM) Natalius Pigai when met in Jakarta, Tuesday (16/9/2025). (ANTARA/Agatha Olivia Victoria)

Minister of Human Rights (Menham) Natalius Pigai assessed that the budget cuts policy carried out by the Ministry of Finance should not be applied to special autonomy funds (otsus) for the Special Region of Yogyakarta, Aceh, and Papua.

According to Pigai, the special autonomy fund has a historical, political and reconciliational basis that is different from the regular budget allocation of ministries and institutions.

"Special autonomy funds are a form of state recognition of regional specificities, the result of political negotiations, and national reconciliation commitments built on the spirit of justice and trust," Pigai said in a statement in Jakarta, Antara, Thursday, October 9.

He emphasized that the special autonomy funds are part of the special regional human rights as well as the glue of the unity and trust of the people of Yogyakarta, Aceh, and Papua in the central government.

Pigai said the special autonomy policy was a form of the country's positive affirmation to strengthen national integration by respecting diversity and strengthening social cohesion.

"The cuts to the special autonomy fund will not only have an impact on the fiscal aspect, but also have the potential to erode public trust and disrupt the sustainability of the peace process in these areas," he said.

Therefore, he asked the Minister of Finance Purbaya Yudhi Sadives not to treat the special autonomy funds the same as other regional regular budgets, because they have fundamental differences in terms of principles, functions, and objectives.

"Otsus funds are a symbol of justice and respect for the state for the political agreement that is the basis for national unity. Therefore, the policy must not be the same," said Pigai asserted.

Previously, the Minister of Finance Purbaya said that local governments needed to improve the quality of spending and budget management so that transfer funds to the regions (TKD) could have an optimal impact on community development and welfare.

He also emphasized that the allocation of the central budget to the regions was not completely reduced, with a value of Rp1,300 trillion which was channeled through various mechanisms of spending on ministries and institutions. However, he acknowledged that there were still transparency constraints in the distribution of funds that made a number of regions question the realization.

"We will monitor it until the end of the year. If the budget absorption is good and the development is on time without findings, of course it should be considered to add," said Purbaya.