House Commission V Chair Lasarus. Foto:Runi/mr

Commission V Chair of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Lasarus, urged the government to maximize the state budget instruments to maintain the national resilience in handling COVID-19 pandemic. For that reason, he encouraged the Public Works and Housing (PUPR) Ministry, Transportation Ministry, and Village, Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration Ministry to make every effort to absorb the budget as best as possible so that its benefit could be felt directly by the public. He mentioned manpower-intensive projects which had been highly appreciated as an example of programs to be supported.

He made that statement when chairing Commission V’s working meeting with PUPR Minister Basuki Hadimuljono, Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi, and Village, Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration Minister Abdul Halim Iskandar at Commission V meeting room, Nusantara Building, Senayan, Jakarta, Monday (31/8/2020). The Vice Speaker of the House for Industry and Development was also present in the meeting.

“Commission V is committed to encouraging our working partners to be able to absorb the state budget properly to help people. All parties really appreciate the manpower-intensive projects, since they can have direct impacts to public in general. We do hope that all manpower-intensive projects can be run immediately and can help people cope with hardship during the pandemic,” stated Lasarus.

On the other hand, the politician from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) expressed great appreciation to PUPR Ministry, Transportation Ministry, and Village Disadvantage Regions and Transmigration Ministry for earning unqualified opinion (or also known as WTP, the best audit grade) from the Supreme Audit Agency. However, Lasarus again called on the ministries to increase the budget utilization curve within September and October this year.

“Regarding the results of the audit of the Supreme Audit Agency on the Government’s Financial Accountability Report, Commission V appreciates the three ministries that earned the WTP title. Meanwhile, until the end of August 2020, government spending of several ministries still accounts for less than fifty percent. We hope the budget utilization curve will rise rapidly,” he concluded. (pun/sf)