Similar To Jokowi, Puan Also Sindir The Stunting Budget Is Even More Used For Meetings

Photo: BPMI Setpres/Rusman

JAKARTA - Chairman of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, received an Introductory to the Draft Law (RUU) on the State Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBN) for Fiscal Year 2024 and its Financial Note from President Joko Widodo (Jokowi). He hopes that the implementation of the 2024 State Budget can be felt directly by the people.

The submission of the Government's statement on the Bill on the 2024 State Budget and its Financial Notes was carried out at the Plenary Meeting of the Opening of the First Session Period of the 2023-2024 Session Year of the Indonesian House of Representatives which was held at the Nusantara Building, Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Wednesday, August 16.

The agenda was held after the MPR Annual Session and the Joint Session of the DPR RI and DPD RI.

"During the previous session, the Indonesian House of Representatives together with the Government had discussed and agreed on Macroeconomic Policy and the Principles of Fiscal Policy (KEM PPKF) for the State Budget for Fiscal Year 2024," said Puan in her speech.

To note, the 2024 PPKF KEM is a preliminary discussion document for the preparation of the draft state budget (RAPBN) for the 2024 fiscal year. Through this discussion, the government and the DPR agreed that the 2024 national economic growth target would be in the range of 5.1 to 5.7 percent with the inflation rate estimated to be under control in the range of 1.5 to 3.5 percent.

Meanwhile, state revenue is estimated to reach between 11.81 percent to 12.38 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) with a target of Rp2,719.1 trillion to Rp2,865.3 trillion in the 2024 State Budget. Then for state expenditures, it is predicted to reach Rp3,215.7 trillion to Rp3,476.2 trillion

Puan reminded, since 2019 the Government has always conveyed its commitment to increasing the absorption of the state budget to be of higher quality. Because quality state spending will accelerate efforts to improve people's welfare.

"Currently, state spending still needs to be improved in quality and effectiveness," said Puan.

The first woman to serve as Chairman of the Indonesian House of Representatives also talked about the non-optimal use of the budget in government agencies.

Puan then mentioned the stunting budget in the APBD of one area of Rp. 10 billion, but what was used concretely to buy nutritious food for stunting children was less than Rp. 2 billion because the rest were mostly used for meetings and official trips, which made President Jokowi furious.

"As was the attention of the President when he found problems in the implementation of the budget for stunting programs, of which only Rp. 10 billion was spent for the direct benefit of the Beneficiary Group," he explained

"Meanwhile, Rp. 8 billion is used for official travel, meetings, strengthening and development," continued Puan.

Reflecting on this, the DPR hopes that future state spending must be more qualified. Puan said, this is important to ensure that the budget allocation is really felt by the community.

"It is our hope that in the future state spending, especially in the 2024 fiscal year, all programs in ministries/agencies will be of higher quality as indicated by budget allocations whose benefits are directly felt by the Beneficiary Group, namely the people," said Bung Karno's grandson.

Meanwhile, President Jokowi said the Government would continue to strive to maintain macroeconomic stability. He also emphasized the importance of a conducive and peaceful situation in the 2024 Simultaneous Elections and Pilkada in order to increase optimism for the short term economy.

"The implementation of the Law on Harmonization of Tax Regulations, the Central and Regional Financial Relations Act, and the Financial Sector Development and Strengthening Law will also provide positive benefits for structural strengthening," explained Jokowi.

After submitting the Government's statement on the Bill on the 2024 State Budget, Jokowi then submitted a draft bill and a Financial Note to Puan as the leader of the DPR.

Furthermore, Puan gave a letter of consideration to the Chairman of the DPD RI La Nyala Mahmud Mattalitti for the submission of the Bill on the 2024 State Budget along with a Financial Note and supporting documents.