TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The government through the Finance Ministry planned to increase the budget for the National Police by Rp10.4 trillion in 2020. This year’s police budget was pegged at Rp94.3 trillion.

“This is to maintain security, including to anticipate the 2020 regional head elections,” said the ministry’s Director-General of Budgeting, Askolani, during a media briefing at the ministry's building, Central Jakarta, Thursday, September 26.

With the budget hike, the police institution would receive the third-largest fund of 2020 State Budget. The institution with the highest budget allocation is the Defense Ministry with Rp131.2 trillion from the initial Rp109.6 trillion, followed by the Public Works and Public Housing Ministry with Rp120.2 trillion from Rp111.8 trillion.

The General Election Commission (KPU) announced on June 24, 2019, that the 2020 regional elections would take place on September 23, 2020, simultaneously in 9 provinces, 224 regencies, and 37 cities. "The 2020 elections will be held in 270 regions across Indonesia," said KPU Commissioner Evi Novida Ginting.

Additionally, the Finance Ministry affirmed that ministries and state institutions expenditures would be arranged so as to become more efficient and effective next year. The four main targets of the budget are to support bureaucracy, tighten goods expenditures, and strengthen capital spending and social assistance.

Askolani further explained the budget hike for the Defense Ministry aimed at meeting its needs for human resources and carrying out adjustments to the Indonesian Military’s (TNI) bureaucratic reform. “As well as for its weapon system equipment (alutsista),” he said.

FAJAR PEBRIANTO