TEMPO.CO, Surabaya - East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa asserted her administration would not issue a policy on the reduction of salaries and allowances of the State Civil Apparatus (ASN) to help tackle the COVID-19 in the region.

"We will not deduct a pay cut for ASN which later becomes such an obligation," said Khofifah who is also the chairperson of Muslimat Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) during a press conference at Grahadi State Building, Surabaya, Tuesday evening, March 31.

Nevertheless, she asked all [regional apparatus organization (OPD) to provide infaq (disbursements) and sadaqah (simple alms). "We can together give infaq and sadaqah," she underlined.

According to the former Minister of Social Affairs, not all state apparatus in the region have a large salary. Those ASN groups I and II faced difficulty paying home and motorcycle installments as there were no longer official trips due to the coronavirus disease or COVID-19 pandemic.

She then planned to help provide aids to them and ordered OPD leaders to send letters to banks, asking credit relaxation. "I am asking the law firm and the inspectorate team to prepare the format. The letter will note requests to banks to provide relaxation or restructures of debt payments for ASN class I and II," said Khofifah.

NURHADI (CONTRIBUTOR)