Regions Must Not Be Left Behind

KOMPAS/WAWAN H PRABOWO

Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) member Agung Firman Sampurna (left) and Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Chairman Agus Rahardjo (right) speak at a task orientation meeting for members of the General Elections Commission (KPU) provincial offices for the 2018-2023 period at Borobudur Hotel, Jakarta, on Friday (25/5/2018). At the orientation, they presented materials on the implementation of general elections that are free from corruption.

Regional development, which is also to improve public service, cannot be separated from the budget. Yet, several regions are unable to complete their regional budgets. At the end of last year, Home Minister Tjahjo Kumolo said four provinces and several regencies and cities were unable to complete the deliberation of the 2018 Regional Budget. Regional development could be hampered.

The home minister called on the heads of the regions to issue a regulation to allow them to pass the budget if the deliberation at the regional legislative council (DPRD) was too lengthy (Kompas, 25/5/2018). The warning from the home minister shows there are regions that cannot complete the Regional Budget deliberation.

Surely, this could hamper regional development, mainly public services. This problem would continue considering several regions are preparing for the regional elections (Pilkada). The draft regional budget is discussed and decided on not only by the head of the region but also with the DPRD.

Several heads of the regions and DPRD members are involved directly in the Pilkada, thus the regional budget may not be their main focus. Moreover, the year 2019 will see the presidential and legislative elections. Thus, if they are not reminded, the 2018 regional budget could be unfinished. Such a condition would hamper development. Public services may not be optimal.

The regional head regulation would not breach any law. Article 313 Point (1) of Law No. 23/2014 on regional administration stipulates the regional head has the right to issue a regulation to produce the APBD if the draft does not get approval from the DPRD within 60 days after its submission.

The budget should not exceed the budget from the previous year. The regulation should be approved by the home minister for the provincial level and from the governor for the regency level. However, if the regional head issued the APBD it could risk creating poor communication between the executive and legislative bodies in the region, disadvantaging the public.

There are reasons that meant the draft budget was not agreed to by the head of the region and the DPRD. There was an inability to reach consensus on the different interests of the DPRD and the head of the region. Even if they could reach agreement, often the agreement involved corruption, collusion and nepotism.

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) recorded that heads of a region, regional officials and members of the House of Representatives (DPR)/DPRD are significantly involved in corruption. As of May, the KPK recorded not less than 322 regional heads implicated in corruption.

The home ministry meanwhile recorded over 3,200 councillors have been involved in corruption since 2005. Without the APBD, public services will be harmed. In fact, the administration, including the people’s representatives, are there to serve the people. Founding president Sukarno once said, “Do not forget that leaders come from the people, not above the people.”