A Breakthrough Needed to Improve Performance on the State Budget: President Jokowi

President Jokowi delivers his remarks on Submission of the 2017 Central Government Financial Report, at State Palace, Jakarta, Monday (4/6) morning (Photo: Human Relations Division/Rahmat).

President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo expressed his gratitude because 2 years in a row the central government has received unqualified opinion from Indonesian Audit Board (BPK) for the 2017 Central Government Financial Report (LKPP).

“We should really appreciate it and I thank for the hard work of all Ministry of Finance officials and all ministries/institutions financed by the State Budget,” President Jokowi said in his remark on Submission of the 2017 Central Government Financial Report (LKPP), at the State Palace, in Jakarta, on Monday (4/6) morning.

Despite the fact that there are two ministries/institutions which got disclaimer opinion, namely Ministry of Maritime and Fisheries Affairs (KKP) and Maritime Security Board (Bakamla), President Jokowi saw an increase in the number of audited entities which receive unqualified opinion. “In 2016 there were 74 unqualified opinions, in 2017 became 80. Meanwhile, for qualified opinion in 2016 were 8, in 2017 were 6; and disclaimer opinion decrease from 6 to 2,” the President explained.

The President expressed his hope that there will be some improvement next year, no more disclaimer or qualified opinion, all should be unqualified.

“The one which got qualified and disclaimer must make a breakthrough, more efforts so that next year will be better, and I also ask to ensure coordination in problem solution of BPK’s mentioned finding.

The President firmly said that he will never get bored to remind all (ministries/institutions) to improve, to reform, to manage, and to maximize the state budget, this is people’s money. “This is our constitutional responsibility to the state as well as our moral responsibility to people, community, this is state’s money, people’s money, must be all used for the benefit of people,” President Jokowi elucidated.

Presented also on the occasion were Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Wiranto, Coordinating Minister for the Economy Darmin Nasution, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Puan Maharani, Coordinating Minister for Maritime and Fisheries Affairs Luhut B. Pandjaitan, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Minister of Health Nila F. Moeloek, Minister of Social Affairs Idrus Marham, Chief of the Indonesian National Defense Forces Hadi Tjahjanto, and Chief of the Indonesian National Police Tito Karnavian.

Along with Moermahadi Soerja Djanegara, other BPK’s officials were Bahrullah Akbar, Agung Firman Sampurna, Agus Joko Pramono, Achsanul Qosasi, Rizal Djalil, Isma Yatun, Harry Azhar Azis, and Eddy Mulyadi Soepardi. (RFS/ES) (EPI/YM/Naster)