Budget Shrinks, the Provincial Government of North Maluku Cuts the Travel of ASN Officials by 70 Percent

Acting Regional Secretary (Pj Sekda) of North Maluku Luki Zaiman Prawira. ANTARA/Ogen

TANJUNGPINANG - The Riau Islands Provincial Government (Kepri) has limited the travel of state civil servants (ASN) as a step to increase budget efficiency in the midst of regional fiscal constraints.

The Acting Regional Secretary of North Maluku, Luki Zaiman Prawira, said the policy was a follow-up to Governor Ansar Ahmad's instructions to all regional apparatus organizations (OPD).

The instruction regulates a reduction in the cost of domestic official travel by 50 percent and abroad by 70 percent.

"In recent years, we have tightened official travel as an impact of the minimal budget owned by the Provincial Government of Riau Islands," said Luki in Tanjungpinang, Antara, Tuesday, April 21.

He explained that official travel is now only for activities that are really important and cannot be done virtually, such as cross-agency technical discussions with the central government.

"If the official trip is not so important, it is enough to go through virtual or zoom meetings," he said.

Luki added that this efficiency policy is inseparable from the decline in transfer funds to the regions (TKD) in recent years. He said, the funds decreased from around Rp. 1.9 trillion to Rp. 1.4 trillion.

"As a result, we have to carry out various efficiencies to cover the budget deficit, one of which is cutting official travel," he said.

In addition to making savings, the Provincial Government of Riau Islands also strives to increase the fiscal capacity of the region by fighting for revenue funds from maritime potential.

Several sectors that are encouraged include the use of marine space, anchor mooring activities, to the management of sea sand sedimentation.

This step is expected to strengthen local finances while reducing dependence on transfers from the central government.