FITRA: Jokowi`s Budget Policies are Against the People

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Forum for Budget Transparency (Fitra) viewed that President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s budget policies have been centered on the bureaucrat’s interest instead of the people’s.

According to Fitra’s advocacy manager Apung Widadi said on Sunday, April 05, 2015, that there were three points indicating Jokowi’s divergent policies.

First, Jokowi has approved the use of taxpayers’ money to almost double the down-payment on luxury cars for officials from Rp116 million to Rp210 million each on March 20, 2015. The total number of officials receiving the down-payment was 753, comprising members of the legislature, the judiciary and the state audit agency.

Second, Jokowi has been cutting the profit shares (DBH) for the regional governments by Rp15.1 trillion (US$1.16 billion). Fitra viewed that the policy would limit regional governments’ movement and emphasize central government’s dominance in carrying out the national development.

“The central government seems to seek more income from regions,” Apung said.

Lastly, Jokowi has earmarked Rp172 billion (US$13.2 million) for the mental revolution program in the Revised State Budget 2015. Apung said that the utilization of the fund has been questionable, since it was requested by Coordinating Human Development and Culture Puan Maharani for dissemination, seminar and public communication projects.

TEMPO.CO | YUSRAN YUNUS