The government's consistency and focus in handling COVID-19 through vaccination and implementation of health protocols becomes one of the keys to achieving the optimistic target of achieving growth at five percent
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Fiscal consolidation policy the government will conduct for 2022 should put emphasis on strengthening the public health sector, member of the Democratic Party Faction at the House of Representatives (DPR), Rizki Aulia Rahman Natakusumah, said.

"The government's consistency and focus in handling COVID-19 through vaccination and implementation of health protocols becomes one of the keys to achieving the optimistic target of achieving growth at five percent," Aulia noted in a written statement on Friday.

The Democratic Party Faction suggests that the fiscal policies be managed well to enable the government to push economic recovery, continue social protection program, improve quality of education, and strengthen healthcare system, he noted.

According to Aulia, it is especially important since the 2022 State Budget Draft was also deemed as the government's transition period to achieve fiscal consolidation in 2023, wherein the maximal deficit limit will return to the maximal rate of three percent.

"COVID-19 handling and national economic recovery should be the main priorities," Natakusumah noted.

In addition, the government should eliminate potential efficiencies in state spending by reducing expenditures for management supports and redirecting the funds for productive programs to boost economic activities and the people's purchasing power, he suggested.

Natakusumah also highlighted that amid the pandemic, the government should continue to offer social protection to Indonesians living in poverty and those on the brink of it.

"Central and regional budgeting policy harmonization and synergy are deemed necessary, so that the TKDD (Transfer to Region and Village Fund) policy can expedite economic recovery, especially in improving the quality of health, education, social protection, and COVID-19 handling in the regions," he noted.

Natakusumah said he remains optimistic that if the recovery of the people's health and COVID-19 handling could proceed well, Indonesia would be able to accelerate the economic recovery and improvement of business sector’s performance.

Translator: Razi Rahman, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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