"There are several districts in Maluku that have become the government's focus, namely the districts of Tanimbar Islands, Southwest Maluku, and Aru Islands," Karnavian said at the Maluku Governor's Office here on Wednesday.
According to the minister, who is also serving as the chairperson of the National Border Management Agency (BNPP), the total budget for Gerbangdutas is Rp7.7 trillion (US$517.3 million), and Maluku has been granted Rp760 billion from it.
The concept of border area development will focus not only on defense aspects, but also on economic aspects, he said.
The BNPP will supervise the use and management of the budget for border development, he added.
"It is our duty to direct and evaluate. Let the budget not be used for other purposes," he said.
If the budget is managed by local governments, it will be included in the Special Allocation Fund (DAK) and should only be used for border development, Karnavian added.
"The mechanism for budget (sourced from) the central government is through DAK. For instance, the Public Works and Public Housing Ministry has a budget to build border roads, bridges, or runways, which the regions can build themselves, the money will be transferred via the DAK mechanism," he explained.
He emphasized the need for inputs from the community on the implementation of Gerbangdutas.
"We want it to be built with a two-way mechanism by listening to inputs from the regions," he said.
In connection with the development, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs, Mahfud MD, has asked the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) to include border issues while drafting the 2025–2029 National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN).
Translator: Ode Azis, Kenzu
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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