Amid Budget Efficiency, Ministry Of Home Affairs Responsibility Of Retrets Of Regional Heads For A Week In Magelang

The photo archive - Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Bima Arya Sugiarto when giving a press statement after attending the DKPP event in the Tanah Abang area, Jakarta, Thursday (30/1/2025). ANTARA/Rio Feisal

JAKARTA - Deputy Minister of Home Affairs (Wamendagri) Bima Arya Sugiarto ensured that the retret or briefing of regional heads resulting from the 2024 Simultaneous Regional Head Elections at the Military Academy (Akmil) Magelang, Central Java, was fully financed by the state budget (APBN) through the Budget Implementation List (DIPA) of the Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri).

The decision is contained in the Circular Letter (SE) of the Minister of Home Affairs Number 200.5/692/SJ issued Thursday (13/2) afternoon addressed to governors and deputy governors, regents and deputy regents, as well as mayors and deputy mayors throughout Indonesia. The regulation also revises SE Number 200.5/628/SJ which had regulated financing through the regional budget (APBD).

"It is true that the funding for briefing regional heads while in Akmil Magelang on February 22 will be fully sourced from the Ministry of Home Affairs' budget, because the Ministry of Home Affairs has a training budget and capacity strengthening of local government officials," Bima said as quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, February 13.

On the other hand, he assessed that all regions have a budget to increase the capacity of the apparatus, including regional heads. This is important so that in carrying out policies and making tasks, regional heads understand the process of planning, implementing, controlling and supervising the regional budget in their regions.

This made the Human Resources Development Agency (BPSDM) of the Ministry of Home Affairs initially open space so that it was budgeted from the APBD. Therefore, this was regulated in the SE.

"However, then the Minister of Home Affairs (Muhammad Tito Karnavian) decided that the cost of regional heads is not borne by the APBD, but will be fully borne by the ministry in increasing the capacity of elected regional heads, not all of which are from the background of bureaucrats," he explained.

Bima emphasized that the decision to transfer the budget from the APBD to the Ministry of Home Affairs is a form of responsibility for its agencies as coaches and supervisors of local governments.

"So, the previous circular was corrected according to the decision of the Minister of Home Affairs," concluded Bima.

For information, the implementation of regional head recruitment is divided into two waves. The first wave will be followed by 505 regional heads.

The retreat will be held at the Military Academy, Magelang, Central Java, from February 21 to 28, 2025. The retreat was carried out after the regional head was sworn in on February 20, 2025 in Jakarta.

Meanwhile, the second batch of retreats will involve 40 regional heads as participants. The implementation of the second batch of retreats is also waiting for the inauguration of the regional head based on the results of the Constitutional Court's decision.

The Red and White Cabinet had attended a retreat attended by President Prabowo in Akmil, Magelang, Central Java, on October 24-27, 2024.