It's Khofifah's Turn To Deny Allegations Of Funds Of Rp6.2 Trillion For The East Java Provincial Government To Deposit In The Bank

East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa (ANTARA)

East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa denied allegations by the Minister of Finance (Menkeu) Purbaya Yudhi Sadives that the East Java Provincial Government (Pemprov) cash fund amounted to Rp 6.2 trillion deposited in the bank.

During his visit to Lamongan, after following healthy roads and low-cost markets to commemorate Santri Day, Khofifah explained that the funds were the remaining more budget financing (Silpa) in 2024, not funds that were deliberately stored or detained.

"The provincial government's cash money worth IDR 6.2 trillion as of October 22 is mostly Silpa 2024, with details of IDR 3.6 trillion in deposits and IDR 2.2 trillion in the giro account," he said, Sunday, October 26.

According to Khofifah, silpa was formed because of the payment of taxes or profit sharing funds from the center that entered at the end of the year so that it could not be included in the current year's APBD.

"Silpa can be a PAD access if someone pays taxes in November or December. The profit sharing funds that fell in the fourth week of October to December also cannot enter the APBD. According to the rules, the funds automatically go to Silpa," he explained.

Khofifah added that the funds were placed in deposits not for profit, but because they could not be used before the audit process of the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) was completed, which usually lasts until May.

"The funds cannot be used until waiting for the BPK audit. So, it is not funds from the center that settle in the area. Some of them are profit-sharing funds," he said.

Khofifah also revealed that he and the regional secretary and deputy governor had explained directly to the finance minister about the mechanism.

"I have explained this to the Minister of Finance in Jakarta. At first I took office also had time to wonder why the silpa could not be used, it turned out that because I had to wait for the BPK audit and the regulation was made by the center," he concluded.