ADKASI Urges Gov’t to Synchronize Development in the Regions

ADKASI members give a press statement after meeting with President Jokowi at the Merdeka Palace on Thursday (9/6)

ADKASI, or the Association of Regional House of Representatives (DPRD), hopes that President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo would synchronize development in the regions because regulations at the Central Government and regional laws are still overlapping.

“One of the examples is the case of village funds in Papua, where the distribution of village funds is not done according to the regulations. There are several villages that do not receive village funds because the regional head does not like certain villages,” said Agus Solihin, ADKASI Secretary General, after meeting with President Jokowi at the Merdeka Palace on Thursday (9/6).

Agus cited another example of a regent who made a Regency Regulation, which is based on favoritism when it comes to the distribution of village funds. There are some villages which should actually receive Rp1 billion in accordance with the regulation from the Central Government but in fact the funds are deducted, while there are some other villages that receive more.

Therefore, Agus added, ADKASI urged the Government to synchronize the regulations.

As for the Special Allocation Funds (DAK) that has been slashed by 10 percent, ADKASI hopes that this efficiency measure, which is based on a circular letter, will not stop prematurely but will bring changes instead.

ADKASI also agrees with the efficiency measure for the expenditure for personnel salaries.

“We hope this efficiency measure will bring changes. In the regional budgets, we have made efficiency measure well, for example, through auctions. We hope this efficiency measure will not be applied to physical development projects only,” Agus added.

Commenting on the Law on the Election of Governor, Regent, and Mayor in which one of the provisions states that members of the legislative council must resign from his position if he wants to run in the regional elections, Agus said there was no discussion on the issue during the meeting and added that ADKASI leaves the matter to the Central Government and respects the ruling of the Constitutional Court.

ADKASI also expressed its hope to President Jokowi that in the discussion about regional development, the Government would listen to inputs not only from regents and mayors but also from DPRD members.

“President Jokowi welcomes and appreciates our input by planning to invite DPRD members, be it at the regional level or at national level – in September,” Agus said, adding that the suggestion was made because the DPRD directly deals with the people and development in the regions.

ADKASI also reported to the President about its plan to convene a national working meeting that will invite all regional heads – be it regents and mayors – in August this year in Riau Province.

For the record, there are a total of 17,652 members of DPRD spread in 417 regencies all over Indonesia.

Minister of Home Affairs Tjahjo Kumolo also joined the President during the meeting with ADKASI. (FID/ES) (Naster/EP/YM)