The Ministry Of Home Affairs Calls 16 Regions Unable To Hold PSU Due To Budget Obstacles

Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Ribka Haluk during a meeting with Commission II DOR. Photo: Nailin/VOI

JAKARTA - Deputy Minister of Home Affairs (Wamendagri), Ribka Haluk said, 16 regions were unable to hold re-voting (PSU) due to budget constraints. Meanwhile, 8 other regions have expressed their ability to re-vote.

As is known, the Constitutional Court (MK) ordered the KPU to hold re-voting (PSU) in 24 regions in Indonesia. Of the 24 regions that will implement the PSU, eight (8) areas are able to carry out or have funds, namely Bungo, West Bangka, North Barito, Magetan, Mahakam Ulu, Kutai Kertanegara, Siak, and Banggai regencies.

"Meanwhile, there are 16 regions that are unable or still need financial assistance from both the province and the state budget. They are Papua Province, Talaud Islands Regency, Buru, Taliabu Island, Pair, Empat Lawang, Pesawaran, South Bengkulu Regency, Serang, Tasikmalaya, Boven Digoel, North Gorontalo, Parigi Moutoung, Banjarbaru City, Palopo, and Sabang," said Ribka in a joint meeting with Commission II of the DPR and election organizers at the Parliament Complex, Thursday, 27 February.

"The two regions that won the empty box, namely Pangkal Pinang and Bangka Regencies," he continued.

Ribka said that the Ministry of Home Affairs had followed up the two regions and after discussions with the DPR for some time, these two regions still needed additional financing. "It has been coordinated with the province as well, but it still needs financing," he said.

Ribka continued, the government has budgeted for the PSU but the funding has not been as needed in the 2025 APBN. For this reason, the Ministry of Home Affairs encourages the local government to make adjustments through changes to the budget regarding the dissemination of the 2025 APBD and submission to the DPRD leadership to be budgeted in the regional regulation regarding changes to the 2025 APBD.

The Ministry of Home Affairs also proposed that the Regional Government be able to meet the budgeting for PSU funding needs in the 2025 State Budget through adjusting APBD revenue and spending efficiency according to presidential instruction number 1/2025 concerning spending efficiency in the implementation of the 2025 APBN and APBD.

"However, the obstacles we faced in the regions were indeed because the new regional head was elected, on this occasion we conveyed that actually the Minister of Home Affairs and all of them were pushing and looking for the right mechanism for the local government to prepare additional funds for the PSU to be implemented," said Ribka.

"According to our coordination in the regions, there are indeed many complaints from the regions because they are still waiting for the state budget because the provinces are still making adjustments," he added.

The Ministry of Home Affairs also asked for the support of the DPR RI and encouraged the addition of APBD posts for regions whose budgets were still minimal in implementing PSU.

"But in principle, the Ministry of Home Affairs is very and will support all processes, as well as encourage local governments to maximize and streamline to prioritize funds that are not used for other purposes in the APBD," he concluded.