Sri Mulyani's Special Staff Responds To Prabowo About The Amount Of The Ministry Of Defense's Budget Not Approved During The Pandemic

Special Staff to the Minister of Finance Yustinus Prastowo (Photo: dock. Antara)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Finance (Kemenkeu) has opened its voice regarding the statement from the presidential candidate (candidate) Prabowo Subianto who conveyed that many of the Ministry of Defense's (Kemenhan) budgets were not approved by Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Special Staff to the Minister of Finance Yustinus Prastowo conveyed that during the Covid-19 pandemic, the government needed all the necessary steps needed to overcome the health, social and economic impacts of Covid-19. One of them is by refocusing the ministry/institutional budget (K/L) which in the end cannot be avoided.

"One of the policies taken by the government and supported by the DPR is that the APBN is prioritized in handling the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, among others, through the budget refocusing policy," he explained in his statement, Tuesday, January 9.

Prastowo explained that through the decision of the Cabinet Session and followed up with various coordinations, budget refocusing carried out during the Covid pandemic applies to all Ministries and Institutions (K/L) through the preparation of spending re-priority by K/L, in order to deal with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition, according to Prastowo, refocusing activities and budgets is determined and decided by each K/L for activities that are considered to be postponed.

"K/L itself understands the most urgent activities and priorities and activities/programs that can be postponed due to the Pandemic," he said.

According to Prastowo, the refocusing was carried out by K/L by blocking the budget from the proposed activities postponed by K/L. Activities and budgets carried out by the blocking can be relaxed according to the priority and budget conditions.

Prastowo conveyed that the implementation of the budget by K/L was carried out in accordance with applicable regulations, then audited by the BPK and held accountable to the DPR.

"We are grateful that thanks to the cooperation, synergy, and support of all parties, Indonesia can handle the pandemic well and including countries that can recover faster and stronger," he concluded.