DKI Regional Budget Touches IDR 81 Trillion, Eko Kuntadhi Surprised Anies Baswedan Asks For Help: Similar To Thug Ormas Asking For THR

Social media activist, Eko Kuntadhi (Screenshot of CokroTV)

JAKARTA - The DKI Jakarta Provincial Government's move to request assistance for facilities for COVID-19 patients from foreign ambassadors in Jakarta has drawn criticism. One of them came from social media activist, Eko Kuntadhi.

According to Eko, it would be strange if Anies Baswedan as the number one person in the capital city had to take this route. The reason is that DKI Jakarta's APBD is large compared to other regions in Indonesia. In 2021 alone, Eko claims, the budget will reach IDR 80 trillion.

"If you ask for help with this model, it gives me the impression that it looks like a gang of thugs asking for THR (Tunjangan Hari Raya) to the company before Eid. Moreover, it is conveyed to representatives of foreign ambassadors in Jakarta, because it's really embarrassing," said Eko via the CokroTV Youtube channel quoted Thursday, July 1 night.

Letters of request for assistance to embassy offices were signed by the Head of the DKI Jakarta Regional Cooperation Bureau Andhika Permata on June 28, 2021.

In the letter, Andhika explained that the government is currently trying to control COVID-19 cases which are currently increasing, one of which is by providing isolation facilities for COVID-19 patients.

Andhika said that the DKI Provincial Government is currently preparing isolation facilities at the Nagrak Flats, Cilincing, North Jakarta. Mentioned, there are five towers that can accommodate 5,000 isolated patients.

According to Eko, if the most expensive need for one room is Rp. 10 million, then the budget that must be spent by the DKI Provincial Government is Rp. 50 billion (10 million x 5,000 units). It is impossible for the DKI Provincial Government to have this amount.

Looking back, the DKI Provincial Government seems to have a hobby of spending a budget that is not essential for residents. For example, the need for road paint for bicycle lanes. Of the 73 kilometers of painted bicycle lanes, the Provincial Government spent up to Rp. 73 billion.

"This means that Rp. 1 billion per 1 km is used to paint or compare it with the payment of a Formula E down payment, which is unclear. Until now, the DKI Regional Government has spent Rp. 560 billion and we know whether Formula E is being held or not, no one knows," said Eko.