Deputy Minister Of Finance Suahasil Reveals Budget Efficiency Doesn't Have To Victim Performance Quality

Deputy Minister of Finance (Wamenkeu) Suahasil Nazara. (Photo: Aris Nurjani/VOI)

The Ministry of Finance (Kemenkeu) emphasized that budget efficiency does not mean reducing performance quality, but reorganizing the work process to make it more effective.

Deputy Minister of Finance (Wamenkeu) Suahasil Nazara gave an example that the Ministry of Finance has a strong commitment to digitalization.

Therefore, Suahasil said that the Ministry of Finance already has various systems such as SPAN at the Directorate General of Treasury, Ceisa at the Directorate General of Customs and Excise, and Galitax at the Directorate General of Taxes.

With the use of this technology, according to him, the Ministry of Finance should still be able to carry out efficiency without sacrificing the quality of service.

"This transformation cannot be separated from the use of technology. We must continue to adapt to an increasingly sophisticated system so that work continues to run optimally with a more efficient amount of resources," he said in his statement, Tuesday, February 4.

In addition, Suahasil highlighted Presidential Instruction (Inpres) Number 1 of 2025 which asks all ministries and institutions to streamline the use of the state budget.

"The president sees that there is potential efficiency in state spending and he believes there is something that can be streamlined. He asked us to sit down together to take a deeper look, and from there we can see shopping that needs to be adjusted," he said.

Suahasil emphasized that his party is committed to streamlining the budget as a form of support for government policies in managing state finances.

"We are entering 2025 with a new government, with new settings, with new priorities from the President and Vice President. This is a natural dynamic, and we will adjust," he said.

In dealing with budget efficiency policies, Suahasil asked all levels of the Ministry of Finance to review work programs so that they remain in line with national priorities.

"Our job is to re-examine the output we produce, sort out which priorities and which ones can still be streamlined. We have to make sure that the budget is really used for the main interest," he said.

Suahasil also emphasized that this efficiency does not mean reducing services that have a broad impact on the community.

"If there are activities that are indeed important, such as patrols at sea, they must continue to run. But if it can be done more efficiently, we will find a way. Meetings can be conducted online, official travel can be reduced, and various expenses that are not too essential can be adjusted," explained Suahasil.

Suahasil emphasized that the Ministry of Finance must be an example in carrying out budget efficiency effectively.

"We want the Ministry of Finance to remain a respected institution. Efficiency is not just a budget cut, but how we work smarter, more strategically, and more responsibly," he concluded.