Poor Performance Due To 'Terror' By Moneylenders, Lebak Regency Government Asks ASN To Only Owe To Banks

Head of the Regional Finance and Assets Agency (BKAD) of Lebak Regency Halson Nainggolan/ANTARA

LEBAK - The government of Lebak Regency, Banten Province, asked local state civil servants (ASN) not to be in debt because it has a bad impact on performance.

"The experience of ASN is in debt, many of them leave their duties and work," said Head of the Lebak Regency Finance and Assets Agency (BKAD), Halson Nainggolan in Lebak, quoted from Antara, Wednesday, June 29.

Most ASN in the Lebak Regency Government are in debt to banks and moneylenders. The Lebak Regency Government allows ASN to borrow from banks for productive needs, such as buying a house, educating children, or investing side business capital.

Even when in debt, it is determined by the ability of monthly income because the loan must be known to the head of the local regional apparatus organization (OPD).

According to him, ASNs who apply for loans to banks with salaries of Rp. 3 million/month, are recommended by the leadership for a maximum installment of Rp. 1.5 million/month and the remaining Rp. 1.5 million for family life.

"We ask all OPD to provide guidance to ASN, do not let the salary minus due to being in debt," he reminded.

According to him, the number of ASN in the Lebak Regency Government is around 9,000 people, most of them owe their debts to banks by guaranteeing a Decree (SK) for the Appointment of Civil Servants.

However, ASN behavior is more severe because apart from borrowing from banks, it is also loan sharks. "The ASN who are in debt to moneylenders are mostly for consumptive needs or buying vehicles," he said.

Because of the loan to moneylenders and unable to pay it, sometimes ASN is sought for a bill collector to the house or place of work.

"There are even ASNs who are in debt and then disappear altogether, even their co-workers don't know about it," he said.

If, their absence accumulates for 158 days/year, it can be recommended for dishonorable dismissal according to the ASN Disciplinary Rules.

Currently, he said, a Lebak ASN/PNS has also disappeared for being a migrant worker to Malaysia.

"Every year between five and six ASN/PNS are dishonorably dismissed for leaving work due to debt. The number is still small in Lebak with 9,000 ASN/PNS compared to Banten," said the former Head of the Lebak Regency Inspectorate.