Jokowi Asks All Agencies Not To Ignore BPKP Recommendations

President Jokowi at the Wasin National Coordination Meeting (Photo: Doc. Setkab)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) requested that all local governments and ministries/agencies not ignore the recommendations of the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP) so that the use of the budget can be optimally absorbed.

Jokowi also emphasized to all agencies not to cover up data when BPKP conducts an internal audit. He wants if something goes wrong, BPKP can open up the agency's mistakes that are audited and find ways to correct them.

"Strengthening internal brawls should not just be accessories. I ask all regions not to ignore the recommendations given by BPKP," he said at the 2023 Internal Insight Coordination Meeting (Wasin) at the BPKP Office, East Jakarta, Wednesday, June 14.

Meanwhile, Jokowi reminded BPKP to start monitoring with yield orientation, no longer oriented to maintain procedures so that the APBN and APBD can be more optimal.

"I ask for supervision to be orientation, not the procedure, what is the orientation of the results. Many of our APBNs have the potential to be not optimal," he said.

Furthermore, Jokowi revealed that there are several programs where the use of the budget does not make sense. For example, stunting handling.

He said, as much as Rp. 3 billion from Rp. 10 billion was intended for official travel, Rp. 3 billion for meetings, and only around Rp. 2 billion was actually intended for food in dealing with stunting.

"Only Rp2 billion really buys eggs, when will stunting be completed if this is the way? Everything else should be Rp2 billion and Rp8 billion buy eggs, fish, meat, vegetables, give them stunting," he said.

Jokowi also highlighted the MSME development budget which tends to be non-optimal. He said there is one area that has a budget of IDR 2.5 billion for the development of MSMEs, of which IDR 1.9 billion is intended for honorariums and official travel. In fact, the remaining IDR 600 million is still spinning for unclear activities.

"The rest is still going back and forth from empowerment, development, absurd terms and not concrete. Just go ahead for working capital, buying production machines, marketing. If the development of MSMEs should be like that, it's clear," he explained.

Therefore, Jokowi reminded BPKP to have the authority to the provinces, districts and cities. This means that this institution can oversee, supervise, and direct the optimization of the budget.

"So the central government, provincial government, or city government should be afraid of BPKP, hesitate and be afraid. Use this (authority) for the good of the state," he said.