made TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Spokesman for the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Jodi Mahardi explained Coordinating Minister Luhut Pandjaitan’s statement related to the government's plan to audit non-governmental organizations or NGOs that are considered to often spread false news or data.

“Yes, it is still a plan, but there are also demands that non-governmental organizations (NGOs) be transparent in their operations in Indonesia,” Jodi told Tempo, Monday, November 15.

He said NGOs are required to be transparent, including about the organizational structure and the origin of the funds that support them. Such transparency, he added, should go both ways between the government and NGOs.

“They have always demanded the government for transparency in development so far,” said Jodi.

He thus opined that the public also has the right to obtain information regarding the sources and uses of NGO funds. Moreover, he said, if the funds are granted by foreign parties.

Jodi claimed that the appeal was also voiced by the House of Representatives to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations. “As far as I know, there are still multinational NGOs operating in Indonesia that have not yet been registered.”

Luhut made the statement on the government’s plan to audit NGOs on national television when he was asked to respond to objections from a number of environmental activists regarding deforestation data which the government claims have decreased.

In response to Luhut Pandjaitan’s statement, the Indonesian Anti-Corruption Society or MAKI invited Luhut to audit his institution. However, MAKI coordinator Boyamin Saiman asserted that his side refused to unveil the identities of whistleblowers.

Read: KPK to Review Report Against Luhut, Erick Thohir Over PCR Business

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