Jokowi and Iriana Live in Karanganyar After Becoming 'Civilians', Minister of Finance Makes Sure the Budget is According to the Rules

Photo: BPMI Setpres/Muchlis Jr

JAKARTA - The budget for the construction of President Joko Widodo's house after 'retirement' is by applicable regulations. There is nothing controversial in the procurement budget.

"I don't remember. I'll see if it's already there. However, that's according to regulations, there are already standards, so there's no controversy", said Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati at the State Palace, Jakarta, Monday, December 19.

He said the budget for the construction of the president's and vice president's houses had been made for former presidents and vice presidents. The budget allocation for the construction of houses for former presidents and vice presidents already has provisions and procedures in the state financial system.

"The budget is in the state general treasury, meaning that the presidents and vice presidents are used to it", said the Minister of Finance.

According to Sri Mulyani, the difference in the construction of the presidential house this time is the location. Usually, the construction of a house for the President of the Republic of Indonesia is carried out in Jakarta.

However, for Indonesian President Joko Widodo, house construction is being carried out outside Jakarta.

"So, later the comparison will be in terms of... the value may also not make a difference", he said.

Deputy for Protocol, Press and Media Secretariat of President Bey Machmudin previously stated that the Ministry of State Secretariat had completed the procurement of land for President Jokowi's residence in Colomandu, Karanganyar Regency, Central Java.

By Law Number 7 of 1978, said Bey, the state provided a house for the former president and former vice president.

In Presidential Regulation Number 52 of 2014, it is stated that former presidents and/or former vice presidents are only entitled to get a house once, including those serving a term of office of more than one term.

In providing a house to President Jokowi, said Bey, it was by the provisions. The house can be obtained after completing the first term of office as President of the Republic of Indonesia (2014-2019).

Planning has been carried out for three years before the term ends, namely in 2017, while the construction can be carried out two years before the term ends, namely in 2018. However, according to Bey, at that time President Jokowi refused.

Only in October 2022, the Ministry of State Secretariat completed the procurement of land for Jokowi's residence in Colomandu District, Karanganyar Regency, Central Java.

"So, once again, by the provisions of the applicable laws and regulations, the provision of residential houses was given not only to Mr. Jokowi but also to all former presidents and former vice presidents", said Bey.