Regent Asked To Make Budget Priority Scale, Jokowi: If All The Money Is Give To The Office, It Doesn't Become Goods

President Jokowi (DOK. BPMI Setpres)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) asked regional heads, including regents, to make a priority scale in the use of the budget. Things must be done especially in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic like now.

"I have often told you that budget consolidation should really be done, especially in the midst of our shaky budget like now due to the COVID-19 pandemic", said President Jokowi at the opening of the Indonesian Regency Government Association (APKSI) Conference which was broadcast on the YouTube account of the Presidential Secretariat Friday, March 26.

The regents, he continued, must reopen the existing budget draft and look at it in more detail.

"Check all detail, where it is running, what is the output, what is the outcome? Everything must be calculated", he said.

The former governor of DKI Jakarta also asked regents to have a priority scale for their programs and not arbitrarily give them to the office. Jokowi assessed that one district is actually sufficient to only have two priorities which are the needs of the community.

He gave an example, regents could focus on opening rice fields or markets. "60-70 percent concentrate the budget there, the people will remember. Wow, on a large scale this makes rice fields. Wow, these 60 markets in the regency have been completed, all built", he said.

"Do not, once again, all given to the office. Later next year the budget will increase by 10 percent, all of them will be given 10 percent. It's not an item. Believe me. It won't become goods", he said.

He also reminded the budget should follow the priority programs of regents in the regions. "Budgeting must focus on essential things, which are really needed", he said.

"APBN (State Budget) is limited, APBD (Regional Budget) is limited. Do not be retailed. Once again, I always reminded and do not assign to all units”, said President Jokowi.