TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Chairman Agus Rahardjo said that a study on the Budget Department (Banggar) at the Regional Representative Council (DPR) is necessary. The KPK chairman said if its existence opens up opportunities for corruption, then it is better be removed.

“Banggar opens a higher opportunity of misuse, we advise it better be replaced by other means,” he said in his office, Jakarta, Wednesday, August 15.

Banggar contains members from each party faction at the DPR. It is in charge of holding discussion with the government represented by the ministers about how to determine the points of general fiscal policy and budget priorities. Banggar is also in charge of discussing the draft on State Budget Law (APBN) with the President.

Banggar has been in the spotlight several times because it is allegedly to have been filled with brokering practice. One of them was in a corruption case that ensnared the former Democrat Party Treasurer M. Nazaruddin and the e-KTP corruption case.

According to Agus, the function of Banggar can actually be replaced if the budget discussion is carried out directly between the government and the commissions in the DPR. The function can also be removed if the government implements an electronic-based financial system namely the e-planning and e-budgeting.

Agus added that the use of the electronic financial system is easier to be monitored by the public. “That way, the ministry and DPR will become transparent and the people can read it,” he said.

M ROSSENO AJI