TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Mahfud Md confirmed that the government extended the special autonomy funds for Papua.

He emphasized that the special autonomy status which has been running since 2001, meanwhile, does not need to be extended. “What is being extended is only the funds,” he said as quoted by Antara on Wednesday, March 31, 2021. He said the relationship status between Papua and the central government remained.

Mahfud said that the government planned to revise several regulations on the Law of Papua Province Special Autonomy. The revised draft has been submitted to the House of Representatives (DPR).

According to him, one of the articles to be amended is Article 76 in the Special Autonomy Law which will determine five regions of the province.

The government has also issued Presidential Decree No. 20 of 2020 concerning the integrated coordination team for the acceleration of welfare development in Papua and West Papua as mandated in Presidential Instruction No. 9/2020. A legal team to examine the use of the funds has also been formed.

Mahfud Md further asked for tighter supervision of the use of state finances. “BPK (Supreme Audit Agency) is expected to conduct stringer supervision because Papua's Special Autonomy funds will surge. Cooperation between the government and BPK is very vital,” he said.

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ANTARA