7 Instructions Sri Mulyani Saves Budget, Official Travel At Ministries And Institutions Cut 50 Percent

Minister of Finance (Menkeu) Sri Mulyani. (ANTARA)

Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati issued a circular (SE) stating that the official trip of the state civil apparatus (ASN) was cut by 50 percent.

The SE numbered S-1023/MK.02/2024 which was issued on November 7, 2024, was addressed to ministers in the Red and White Cabinet, attorney general, police chief, heads of non-ministerial government agencies, and heads of secretariats of state institutions.

The letter related to ASN official travel was cut by 50 percent and instructed state officials to optimize official travel expenditures for the 2024 budget. This efficiency step follows President Prabowo Subianto's direction in cabinet meetings on 23 October and 6 November 2024.

The circular regarding ASN official travel was cut 50%, including seven instructions from Sri Mulyani to state officials, namely:

First, Sri Mulyani asked the ministers or heads of institutions to review activities that require official travel expenditures in the list of budget implementation (DIPA) 2024 which can still be saved.

"This is done while maintaining effectiveness in achieving program targets in each Ministry/Institution (K/L)," said the quote from the letter, which was conveyed to President Prabowo and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka.

Second, savings of at least 50% must be applied to the remaining official travel budget ceiling in DIPA 2024, effective since this letter was issued.

Third, if there is a need for urgent official travel after savings, the minister or head of the institution can apply for a permit to use the remaining budget to the finance minister.

Fourth, saving a 50 percent official travel budget is excluded for two types of trips, namely travel for units whose main duties do require official travel and permanent official travel, such as agricultural instructors, religious instructors, and travel at the embassy or attaches.

Fifth, K/L is asked to control official travel spending independently and record it on page IV of DIPA as savings. K/L must also coordinate the implementation of this savings with agencies or work units in their respective environments.

Sixth, the revision of the recording on page IV of DIPA must be carried out at the Regional Office of the Directorate General of Treasury of the Ministry of Finance.

Seventh, so that restrictions are carried out independently, ministries/agencies/work units are prohibited from submitting requests for payment for official travel before revising records on page IVA DIPA.

As stated in point 2, the SE numbered S-1023 / MK.02 / 2024 regarding the official travel budget which was cut by 50 percent is valid since the circular was issued, namely November 7, 2024.