Challenges And Anxiety Behind Budget Efficiency

JAKARTA - The government has announced a policy of cutting for budget efficiency in various sectors as an efficiency step in dealing with global economic pressures. This decision raises a variety of reactions, including from a number of institutions that voice their objections to the policy.

According to an official statement from the Ministry of Finance, this cut step aims to optimize the use of state funds and adjust budget allocations to national priority needs. However, several institutions and agencies have expressed concerns that budget cuts will have a significant impact on previously planned public services and strategic programs.

One of the sectors most affected is education. Several state universities and research institutions expressed their objection to reducing the budget because it could hinder research and human resource development projects. "We understand the state's financial condition, but budget cuts in the education sector can interfere with the quality and accessibility of higher education," said the Chancellor of one of the well-known universities in Indonesia.

The concern about the existence of an efficient budget policy in the world of education is feared to have an impact on increasing UKT money for students. This statement was conveyed by Yogi Ardianto, a member of the UGM Student Executive Board during dialogue, because the limited budget of the Ministry of Education and Culture which was cut would have an impact on increasing tuition or UKT. Because according to Yogi, the government's inconsistency makes students less trust the government's pretexts so far, for example, the formation of a fat cabinet while we are having difficulty with funds.

Meanwhile, health institutions also expressed their concerns. It is feared that budget cuts in the health sector can reduce the quality of health services for the community, especially in programs to deal with infectious diseases and health services in remote areas.

On the other hand, some parties support this policy on the grounds that budget efficiency is needed to maintain economic stability and prevent waste. The government emphasized that budget cuts are carried out with the principle of prudence and will not interfere with vital services for the community. The government also believes that budget cuts will not touch the salaries of employees and activities related to public services.

According to Minister Sri Mulyani, "This step will become a new culture, an emphasis on carrying out tasks to work efficiently, quickly, well, public services are also not carried out in prison, targets are not carried out by prisons." Sri said in front of members of Commission XI DPR RI during a meeting related to budget efficiency

"We must be realistic in facing global economic challenges. This budget cuts do not mean sacrificing important sectors, but instead ensuring that the budget is used more effectively and efficiently," the Minister of Finance said at a press conference.

The budget tightening policy, Sri Mulyani, will not have an impact on the KIP Scholarship Guarantee, LPDP, BPI, and BIB, including the issue of student UKT costs.

There Have Been Rejections By A Number Of Institutions

Although a number of institutions have participated in the government's policy, many institutions have expressed objections, so far there has been no absolute rejection. However, there are several institutions that have stated that they reject budget cuts, including LPSK institutions, until they hold demonstrations of a number of their employees in front of the LPSK Building, as well as the Judicial Commission. Even LBH stated that it was ready to file a lawsuit against the government.

VOI Today: Prabowo's 'Ndasmu' Speech For Criticism Becomes Polemic. (VOI Video graphics Team)

There are also resistances of a number of institutions, especially newly established institutions and preparing to organize organizations, but they already have to face efficiency. They urge the efficiency policy to be reviewed.

Prabowo even said that he stated that there was a small king, who did not want to be asked to save on the budget. "I want unnecessary expenses, Mubashir's expenses, the reason for helping me to stop, clean up. Some want to fight me in the bureaucracy." he said during a speech at Harlah Muslimat NU in Surabaya.

Responding to President Prabowo's statement Political Analyst, Ahmad Khoirul Umam called the statement a form of early warning system, against elements that have different perspectives from the president's policy that he wanted to make savings. It can also be seen as a correction at the previous bureaucratic level, which Hashim Djojohadikusumo called a budget for ridiculous purposes.

The majority of the affected parties prefer to discuss and find solutions together with the government. Several civil society organizations and academics also suggested that this policy be reviewed taking into account its long-term impact on national development.

Budget cuts are indeed challenging policies and cause debate. Despite concerns from various sectors, the government is committed to conducting periodic evaluations to ensure this policy does not hinder economic growth and community welfare. Now, the main challenge is how to find a balance between fiscal efficiency and the sustainability of important programs for the Indonesian people.

As a result, the budget, such as infrastructure for road and bridge maintenance, is drastically cut. So for the next year, it is certain that there will be no road and bridge maintenance. So some asked the DPR to discuss their needs. Confusion of information about budget cuts seems to have subsided after the Ministry of Finance provides restrictions on what provisions are subject to efficiency.

The efficiency of saving Institutions / ministries applies to the following, including the purchase of ATK which is cut by 90%, ceremonial activities are cut by 58%, Meetings, Similar Seminars by 45%, Studies and Analysis by 29%, Bimtek Education and Training activities of 40 %, activity output of 40%, Printing 75% and Building Rental 75%.

So almost all Ministries and Institutions are equally affected by different amounts of efficiency, as a miss. Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemlu): IDR 2.03 trillion from the ceiling of IDR 9.8 trillion. Ministry of Defense (Kemenhan): IDR 26.7 trillion from the ceiling of IDR 166.2 trillion. Ministry of Communication and Culture (Komdigi): IDR 3.84 trillion from the ceiling of IDR 7.72 trillion. Which is within the scope of commission I partners.

Or the Ministry of institutions within Commission II, including the Ministry of PAN-RB: from previously having a ceiling of Rp. 392.98 billion, it was revised to Rp. 184.9 billion. Ministry of ATR/BPN: which originally had a ceiling of Rp. 6.45 trillion was cut to Rp. 2.01 trillion, Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri): from a ceiling of Rp. 4.79 trillion was cut to Rp. 2.17 trillion. General Election Commission (KPU): Rp.843.2 billion from a ceiling of Rp. 3.06 trillion. Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu): Rp955 billion from a ceiling of Rp. 2.41 trillion. State Civil Service Agency (BKN): Rp195.1 billion from a ceiling of Rp798.34 billion. State Administration Agency (LAN): Rp91.4 billion from a ceiling of Rp328.48 billion.

In addition to pruning in a number of ministries, it turns out that there are several institutions that are not affected by efficiency such as the police and agriculture. The reason is that the two institutions have essentials. According to Drajad Wibowo, one of the funds is to buy farmers' unhulled rice. The President has ordered the purchase of unhulled unhulled rice, unhulled unhulled rice is priced at 6,500. thus creating the excitement of farmers to want to produce unhulled rice.

Like the National Police and the Ministry of Agriculture, it is not cut because it is necessary to boost food products. The issue of the TNI and Polri has also been cut by their own Pertimbanagn, about security and Geostrategy. Adian from PDIP asked what the considerations were for determining that the 5 Ministries were not temporarily cut by 16 KL, others were cut.

The budget cuts and savings were carried out so that the government had funds to finance the program that Prabowo had promised during the campaign. Among them is a free nutritious eating program. for school children.

But now it seems that there are many miscommunications circulating that the issue of the ministry cutting the budget for irrigation has been cut. Meanwhile, according to Drajad Wibowo, as a team that has prepared Gerindra planning, President Prabowo has issued an inpres on irrigation. There are eight provinces that will be repaired, but Drajat has not been able to confirm whether it is included in the PU budget or the Ministry of Agriculture

The issue of IKN is budgeted for 48.8 trillion for 5 years, for this year it has been budgeted for 5.1 trillion and then repaired again to only 1.6 trillion. According to him, if the budget is only 1.6 trillion, it cannot be built, at least only for maintenance. Meanwhile, Prabowo asked for this year if it could be built for a Judicial Institution or the legal sector, so it is still being discussed in the DPR. So it was decided that the OIKN would continue. So if initially the OIKM received a budget ceiling of Rp1.15 trillion, it would be added to Rp6.3 trillion and the budget added again to Rp8.1 trillion

Meanwhile, Drajad Wibowo ensured that Prabowo IKN's wish would continue even though we know that we are having difficulty funding, for that, according to Drajad, his party is collecting sources of funds from postal posts that have not been optimally explored, such as PNBP and tax taxes that must have been collected. So in time the president asked for the bureaucratic team to collect it. The bureaucratic Mindset has changed about how to strategy for collecting funds from taxes.

It is predicted that with the budget savings program, the government will pocket money worth 306 trillion. According to Ujang Komarudin, the money is to fund 20 strategic Prabowo programs.