PSI Slams Anies Baswedan's Rp12bn Budget for Antivirus

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta administration under Governor Anies Baswedan reportedly has set a budget ceiling for the procurement of software license and antivirus in 2020 at Rp12 billion. The figure significantly increases from this year’s budget at Rp200 million.

Indonesia Solidarity Party (PSI) faction member William Aditya Sarana exposed the figure at Jakarta Legislative Council (DPRD), Thursday, October 3. He was surprised after knowing the budget from the draft of 2020 General Budget Policies and Provisional Budget Ceiling and Priorities (KUA-PPAS).

“We will explore it in the budget committee meeting, on what purposes of the Rp12 billion budget? Why [the license] must be purchased instead of rented?” said the 23-year-old legislator, who is the youngest at Jakarta DPRD.

In the previous budget, William reiterated, the city administration only rented antivirus software which cost some Rp200 million, and that was applied during the administration of Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama alias Ahok throughout 2016-2018.

However, the next year’s budget is proposed for the license purchasing that sees 60 times hike. “Why that must be bought instead of rented?” William remarked.

He opined that the budget ceiling must be taken accountable. “Because we want to save people’s fund that is considered profligacy so far.”

The PSI politician stressed that the budget hike to procure the antivirus license proposed by the administration of Anies Baswedan is irrelevant.

IMAM HAMDI