TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has asked Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung to issue a circular letter to protect regional heads from being criminalized for certain administrative errors.
Pramono said that the circular letter would be sent to regional heads.
“[The circular letter] is related to policies that could not be considered as crimes. Second, an administrative issue should be settled with administrative process,” Pramono said at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday, August 26.
Pramono denied that the move was aimed to open more opportunities to corruption.
Pramono admitted that regional heads had been reluctant to disburse budget due to a concern of being criminalized. As a result, as much as Rp 273 trillion (US$19.5 billion) remained locked at regional-owned banks.
Earlier on Monday, August 24, 2015, Jokowi gathered governors, prosecutor’s office heads, regional police heads and other law enforcers to prevent criminalization against administrative errors. Jokowi asserted that administrative errors are governed under Law No. 30/2014.
Pramono said that regional heads had been provided with a legal guarantee to disburse the regional budget.
“As long as they don’t steal, they will be guaranteed under the law,” he said.
Other legal basis protecting regional heads from such criminalization include the laws on the Supreme Audit Agency and the Development Finance Comptroller (BPKP).
According to Pramono, the regulations provide a protection from criminalization and a period of 60 days to settle issues with projects execution.
FAIZ NASHRILLAH | TIM KORAN TEMPO
