Jokowi Will Disband 18 State Institutions, Observer: Efforts To Prove His Speech

President Joko Widodo (Photo: Cabinet Secretariat of the Republic of Indonesia)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo said he would disband 18 state institutions to reduce budgets amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to a political observer from Al Azhar University Indonesia, Ujang Komarudin Jokowi's move was seen as an attempt to fulfill the statement he made on June 18.

"(President Jokowi, red) may also want to prove his statement at the viral plenary cabinet meeting on June 18. Jokowi wants to reshuffle and dissolve the institution. It could be that the institution is dissolved," said Ujang when contacted by VOI, Tuesday, July 14.

Ujang appreciated when Jokowi actually dissolved state institutions that were not functioning and wasted the state budget. Especially in difficult times during a pandemic like this.

"The positive thing is if there is a state institution whose function is unclear, ineffective, inefficient, and costs state money and is then dissolved. Indeed, it must be dissolved if it does not have a function," he said.

"Why defend an institution that has no use and function," added the Executive Director of the Indonesia Political Review.

In line with Ujang, Amanat Institute researcher Dirga Maulana also agreed with President Jokowi's move to dissolve 18 institutions to suppress budgets. "The goal is very clear so that the wheels of the organization can run very quickly and optimally," he said.

In addition, he assessed that the disbandment of state institutions during the COVID-19 pandemic like now could be the right momentum to evaluate their performance so far.

Previously, President Joko Widodo said there were 18 institutions that would be dissolved in the near future. However, he did not elaborate on which institutions would be dissolved.

The former governor of DKI Jakarta said that the elimination of this state institution was carried out to reduce the burden on the state budget amid the COVID-19 pandemic. This is because the costs originally budgeted for this unproductive institution can be diverted to more important matters.

"The more we can return the budget, the cost. If it can be returned to the ministerial ministries, to the Director General, the Directorate, and the Director must use these agencies again. To the commissions again," said Jokowi at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta, Monday , July 13th.

The streamlining of institutions, he continued, is also expected to accelerate the government's steps. Especially in the future global competition, countries that are fast will beat countries that are slow to work.

"I want the ship to be as simple as possible so that it moves faster," he concluded.