We use regional finances carefully, properly, and responsibly
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati stated that Indonesia has demonstrated its ability to maintain accountability and transparency in utilizing the state money during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis.

"We use regional finances carefully, properly, and responsibly. In the end, it can be seen from the results of the BPK (Supreme Audit Agency) audit, where many ministries and institutions and local governments have received the Unqualified Opinion (WTP) amid extraordinary challenges," Indrawati remarked at the National Coordination Meeting on Accounting and Government Financial Statement, here on Thursday.

Indrawati said, the BPK had given an Unqualified Opinion (WTP) on the implementation of the 2021 state budget.


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Meanwhile, the WTP was given to 83 ministries and institutions out of the total 87 and to 500 local governments from a total of 530.

Indrawati believes this is a major achievement, as several opportunities existed to abuse the state finances in times of crisis.

"There are many reasons to abuse (state finances), but ladies and gentlemen, you can maintain the state's finances accountably, and the delivery output and performance outcome were good," the minister remarked.


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Indrawati highlighted that transparency in using the state budget had resulted in good outcomes, especially for social welfare.

The poverty and unemployment rates had begun to decline after earlier rising to double-digit levels due to the pandemic, the minister noted. Moreover, the national economic growth has recovered remarkably in the first and second quarters, she added.

However, she called to not be complacent yet, considering the ongoing inflation due to the high prices of food, fuel, and energy, as well as volatile capital flow and the increasing rate hike by central banks.

"Some have 15 or 10 WTPs, but that should not be the reason that we are complacent because the current and future challenges will be very complex," she stated.


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Translator: Astrid H, Kenzu T
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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