Anies Baswedan Speaks of Biggest Challenge in One-Year Office

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan said the budget allocation for his campaign promise was his biggest challenge during his first year in office. To realize his promise, Anies must first submit his programs in the regional mid-term development plans (RPJMD).

“If it [the program] is not listed in RPJMD, we cannot allocate [the budget], and that is the biggest challenge during the first year,” said Anies in Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) Complex, Jakarta, Tuesday, Oct 16. 

The governor claimed the target of his first year in office was entering his campaign promise in the 2017-2022 RPJMD. According to Anies, the budget in RPJMD would be then listed in the 2018 Revised Regional Budget (APBD-P) and the 2019 Draft Regional Budget (RAPBD).

Read: Anies` One Year Office; Observer Flagship Program Unrealized 

For example, the budget for the zero percent down payment (DP 0 percent) housing program. Jakarta Legislative Council (DPRD) approved the program funding worth Rp717 billion in the 2018 APBD-P. Thus, the city administration utilized the regional debt to cover the down payment of the housing program.

Anies on October 12, 2018, has launched the DP 0 percent program in Klapa Village, East Jakarta, dubbed SAMAWA, an abbreviation of Solusi Rumah Warga (solution of community residence).

“Those are the steps we follow and thank God, we are grateful for this one-year journey,” said Anies. “Insha Allah, the foundation is ready, so we can carry it [the program] out in the second, third, and fourth year.”

Today, Oct. 16, marked the first year of Anies Baswedan leading the capital city. Anies and Sandiaga Uno were inaugurated as governor and deputy governor of Jakarta on October 16, 2017. Sandiaga accompanied Anies for only ten months after resigned to join Prabowo Subianto in the presidential election next year.

LANI DIANA WIJAYA