TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The tug-of-war between the Home Affairs Ministry and the Ministry of Village and Disadvantaged Development and Transmigration over the massive Dana Desa (Village Fund) has become a big worry and appears to be affecting the government's synergy. This is the predictable result of President Joko Widodo adding more ministries to his cabinet: the overlapping of authority.

In this case, the two ministries seem to have different perceptions of their respective authorities, leading to their fight over who controls the directorate-general of community and village development.

Home Affairs Minister Tjahjo Kumolo believes it should remain under his jurisdiction because his ministry is responsible for the link between the central government and the village administrations. But Village Development Minister Marwan Ja'far points to Law No. 6/2014 on Villages, which mandates his ministry for the development of villages.

The consequent problem is the question of which ministry has the authority over the Village Fund. The development of villages is very important because it was emphasized by President Joko Widodo and Vice President Jusuf Kalla during their electoral campaign. And the disbursement of the funds is a legal requirement, as cited in the Law on Villages.

According to that legislation, each village is entitled to receive about Rp1 billion. There are 72,944 villages throughout Indonesia, which means a budget of Rp73 trillion. The problem arises because both ministries feel they are responsible for the implementing regulations of that legislation.

The Home Affairs Ministry refers to Article 1, Paragraph 16 underlining that its minister should manage village development. The general clarification indeed says this sector should be managed by the home affairs minister. Then Article 112, Paragraph 1 says that by government it means the Home Affairs Ministry which should implement the management of village governance.

As such, the Home Affairs Ministry feels it is authorized to manage villages. But according to the former chairman of the Special Committee on Village Law, Ahmad Muqowwan, the term ‘currently' in the legislation did not have the Village Development Ministry in mind. So it's not surprising that this ministry feels matters pertaining to villages, including the disbursement and management of their funds, to be the responsibility of the Village Development Ministry.

Additionally, Presidential Regulation No. 165/2014 clearly regulates that the management of the Village Fund, in line with Article 6 names the Village Development Ministry as the ministry coordinating the work and functions pertaining to village development. From its nomenclature, this ministry would be more appropriate in managing the Village Fund.

As a result of the different interpretations of the law, the big worry is whether the fund, which should have been disbursed throughout Indonesia by the middle of this year, will not come to pass.

There is no other way, President Jokowi must clearly and firmly step in and make his clarification, which must be obeyed by the two ministries, whatever he decides. But according to the law and the presidential decree issued by Jokowi, with the establishment of the Village Development Ministry, it is clear that anything having to do with villages in Indonesia is the responsibility of the Village Development Ministry. (*)