TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Home Affairs Ministry has decided to reject the IDR 20 billion budget allocation for road restoration projects in the housing complex of Indonesian Military (TNI) and Indonesian National Police (Polri). The budget was listed in the Jakarta Regional Budget (APBD Jakarta).

The decision was discussed during an evaluation meeting regarding the 2019 budget draft in the Jakarta Legislative Council (DPRD) on Friday, December 21, 2018.

"[The complex residents] pay land and building tax for years, but received no service there at all," said Jakarta DPRD member Bestari Barus questioning the ministerial review.

The ministry declined the budget due to land ownership status which belonged to TNI and Polri, instead of the city administration, Edy Sumantri as the head of Jakarta Financial Management Board (BPKD) explained.

"Exception applies if the area is under the authority of Jakarta as regulated in Law No. 23 of 2014 on Regional Government," Edy added.

Jakarta's development and environment assistant Yusmada Faizal added that the road repair in the land which its management did not belong to the city administration often caused problem.

Yusmada suggested that the project should be funded through grant funds. He added that his office would strive to communicate the matter with the Home Affairs Ministry. "The governor has authority, so this project will be financed using a grant fund, based on the gubernatorial regulation on grant budgeting," Yusmada concluded.

M JULNIS FIRMANSYAH