Overpayment Often Occurs During Anies Baswedan's Age, Observers Say The Problem Is A Mode Of Corruption

DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan (Photo: Instagram/@aniesbaswedan)

JAKARTA - The Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) has revealed that many of the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government's budget items were overpaid. Most recently, DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan was found to be still paying KJP Plus educational assistance to thousands of students who had graduated from school. Polemics like this are already widely heard. So what is the root of the problem?

The head of the DKI Jakarta Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) Pemut Aryo Wibowo on August 5 found that there was a waste of the DKI Jakarta provincial government's budget for the purchase of N95 respirator masks of up to Rp5 billion. This budget is taken from the 2020 DKI Regional Budget Unexpected Expenditure Post (BTT).

The report explains that the DKI Provincial Government has purchased masks of the same type from two different companies, namely PT IDS and PT ALK. But the price is different. "The above problems have resulted in a waste of regional finances worth IDR 5,850,000,000," wrote Pemut.

The DKI Health Office signed a mask purchase contract three times to PT IDS for a total of 89 thousand masks. The first purchase was 49 thousand masks with a unit price of Rp. 70 thousand. Second, 30 thousand pieces with a unit price of Rp. 60 thousand. And the third bought 20 thousand pieces with a unit price of Rp. 60 thousand.

Then it turned out that the DKI Provincial Government also bought 195,000 masks from PT ALK with a unit price of Rp 90 thousand. Even though BPK confirmed that PT IDS was able to fulfill the procurement of masks as many as 200 thousand pieces. But the DKI Provincial Government made a purchase to PT ALK.

"If you procure goods of the same type and quality, you should negotiate a minimum price with the same price for other respirators (N95) that meet the requirements or even lower than the previous procurement," said Pemut. Thus, Pemut considers KDP to be not careful in managing regional finances economically.

Illustration of a 3M N95 mask. (Wikimedia Commons/US Customs and Border Protection)

Then BPK also revealed that the DKI Provincial Government overpaid the procurement of COVID-19 rapid test kits in 2020 with a value of Rp1.1 billion. According to BPK's examination, it was found that two service providers procuring tools with similar brands in the near future but different prices.

Not only that, said Pemut Anies, who is still paying the salaries of employees who have died until retirement of Rp. 862 million in the 2020 DKI APBD. "The excess payment of salaries and regional performance allowances (TKD) or TPP is Rp. area (OPD)."

Indeed, Pemut said a number of OPDs had returned the overpayment of salaries to the regional treasury. However, only Rp. 200.9 million. "So there is still an overpayment of salaries and TKD/TPP worth Rp.661,801,780."

Pemut views that there is an overpayment of salaries and TKD/TPP on employees who should no longer receive it because the officials of each OPD do not periodically verify the payroll for each employee. Therefore, Pemut said that the BPK recommended improvements.

Last month it was also revealed that the DKI Provincial Government did the same thing in purchasing fire extinguishers. Based on the 2019 DKI Provincial Government financial report, BPK found four packages of funds for the procurement of fire engines with expenses that exceeded the price of the equipment. The total overpayment was recorded at around Rp6.5 billion.

Corruption mode

Public policy observer Trubus Rahadiansyah assesses that this problem is not actually an overpayment. "But it's actually the mode of corruption," Trubus told VOI.

The reason, said Trubus, the element of intentionality in this matter is high. "This guy over and over again."

Trubus said we can't take this for granted. Because he said the modes of corruption took various forms.

"It's actually called markup, right, but the language is that he's overpaid. Overpayment. Corruption has various modes," Trubus said.

According to Trubus, the problem of overbudgeting is like an iceberg phenomenon. "There are more questions that don't get caught, right? If we talk about the iceberg phenomenon, it means that there are even more underneath."

"Because there are many cases, it's not just firefighters, land, then students who have graduated are also still being paid. That's almost all budget items, right," he added.

Anies said

Some of the BPK's spotlight on the issue of overpayment has already been responded to by the Governor of DKI Jakarta, Anies Baswedan. He clarified several things related to BPK's findings during the plenary session on August 2nd.

Regarding waste on the procurement of masks and COVID-19 rapid test kits, for example, according to Anies, this has been followed up in accordance with BPK's recommendations. "It has been followed up in accordance with BPK's recommendations," said Anies.

In addition, regarding the overpayment of the purchase of a fire engine procurement package, Anies also said that the findings had been followed up. "And returned to the Regional Treasury."

Meanwhile, the Head of the DKI Health Office, Widyastuti, said that the problem of procuring masks and rapid tests was actually an activity in 2020 and had been checked by the BPK. "This is an activity in 2020 and an inspection has been carried out by the BPK and no state losses have been found," he told reporters on August 6.

DKI Head of Health Office Widyastuti (DOK VOI/Diah Ayu)

According to Widyastuti, the problem of overpaying masks and COVID-19 test kits is only an administrative matter. "There is no state loss, it's just an administrative matter."

Widyastuti also explained the reason for the difference in the price for the procurement of masks. "That's the beginning, masks are difficult, so there are many types available. Well, of course we are in accordance with the specifications requested with input from the user," he said.

Root of the problem

Trisakti University Public Policy Analyst, Trubus Rahadiansyah, explained the root of the problem of over-budgeting that occurred repeatedly. According to him, all problems stem from the preparation of the APBD.

"As long as the arrangement is closed. So it doesn't involve the public too much. Because of the COVID-19 condition, right. Meanwhile the meeting is also in Puncak, Bogor, right. People want access to it, it's also difficult," explained Trubus.

After that, the debate about the budget also arose. "For example, buying a pen that reaches several billion," said Trubus.

It came to the issue of paying for the Formula E title. "It's not known how the case started. Even though it was already paid for."

Trubus said this problem should have been anticipated since the preparation of the budget. "But this looks like it's all covered up."

Trubus also said that the policy makers may know that there is an excess budget. "The advantages are part of the mode," he concluded.

*Read other information about DKI Jakarta or other interesting articles from Ramdan Febrian Arifin.

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