Jakarta's Budget Plan Called Out Again by Transparency Watchdog

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Forum for Budget Transparency (FITRA) found another set of questionable budget allocation plans inside Jakarta’s 2020 budget draft in the form of grass shears purchase folio books and table tennis. The city’s budget plan has become subject to widespread criticism after it was found that the city filed Rp82 billion to buy Aibon-branded glue. 

“We obtained the questionable records directly from its source, the Jakarta budget allocation draft (KUA-PPAS 2020),” said FITRA secretary-general Misbah Hasan on Wednesday.

The allocation to purchase grass shears in the forestry agency filed for a budget of Rp491 million, whereas Rp223 million are allocated to purchase 1,324 grass shears from the North Jakarta Forestry Agency. 

Apart from the budget plan for ballpoint pens (Rp579.9 billion) and liquid erasers (Rp24.1 billion), FITRA found that the Aibon glue purchase was higher than what PSI politician William Aditya Sarana revealed to the public. 

FITRA found that the entire regional working units (SKPD) in Jakarta have filed budget to buy glue amounting to Rp126.2 billion. 

Misbah further explained that the Jakarta Administration should have already submitted its 2020 budget plan to the Jakarta’s legislators (DPRD) in July, followed by the curating process of the budgets. However, in reality, this schedule has not been met. 

IMAM HAMDI