Abdul Kadir Karding, a member of the House of Representatives of the PKB faction, gauged that the plan was a follow-up to the aggravation toward several ministers during a cabinet meeting on June 18.
"In other words, the president’s annoyance toward the minister, who did not have a sense of the crisis, is not a joke as was accused by some parties," Karding noted in Jakarta on Wednesday.
This is not the first time that Jokowi has dissolved bodies and institutions. In 2016, he had dissolved the National Seed Agency, Mass Guidance Control Agency; Economic and Financial Security Strengthening Board, and Steering Committee for the Development of Special Economic Zones on Batam Island, Bintan Island, and Karimun Island.
Other institutions dissolved at that time were the National Team for Standardization of Topographical Names, Indonesian Maritime Council, National Council for Free Trade and Free Ports, National Spatial Planning Coordinating Board, and National Commission of Zoonotic Control.
During that time, Minister of Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung pointed to the presence of 127 non-structural institutions (LNS) when the Working Cabinet began serving. During that time, a total of 21 LNS were disbanded, with details of 11 LNS being disbanded in 2014, two in 2015, and nine in 2016. Thus, in 2016, some 106 LNS were remaining.
Karding called for all parties to support Jokowi's drive to dissolve institutions and commissions for the sake of budget efficiency and accelerating public services.
He believes that the plan to dissolve institutions and commissions was testament to Jokowi's seriousness to overcome problems faced by the community during the pandemic.
"Simplifying bureaucracy will make the service less complicated, so the budget absorption can be felt directly by the community in accordance with the president's instructions," Karding stated.
The lawmaker pointed out that all decisions were taken following meticulous calculations and considerations for optimal benefits and to reduce the negative impact.
Furthermore, he sought the government’s attention and concern over the fate of workers in the institution or commission that would be dissolved, especially employees working at the institution or commission.
Jokowi had earlier stated that 18 institutions will be disbanded in the near future.
Those institutions were abolished to lower the burden on the state budget during the COVID-19 pandemic. Related news: KKP encourages speedier budget absorption to support economic recovery
Related news: Synergy instrumental in boosting budget absorption in health sector
Translator: Imam B, Azis Kurmala
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2020
