TB Hasanudin, a member of the House of Representatives Commission I, was commenting on President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono`s statement in his speech to present the Draft 2012 State Budget and Financial Note to the House that the government would increase the amounts of funds it usually transferred to all regions in Indonesia.
"The receipt of more funds by the regions must also be followed by greater accountability and better management in the regions," Hasanuddin said.
He said without good management, the large amount of money given by the central government to the regional governments would be wasted or even corrupted.
Hasanuddin urged the government to refer to the result of audit conducted by the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) in 2010 about suspected corruption in the spending of Special Autonomy Funds for Papua and West Papua provinces.
According to BPK`s investigation, during the period 2002- 2010 the central government had disbursed Rp28 trillion for development programs in Papua and West Papua provinces. Of the amount, Rp566 billion proved to be unaccounted for.
During investigation conducted by BPK last 2010, there was Rp211 billion of regional spending that had no written evidence. There was also a Rp326 billion of spending for goods and services not in accordance with regulations.
Looking at the experience in Papua and West Papua provinces, Hasanuddin suggested that the government make a sufficient road map before disbursing a large amount of money to autonomous regions.
Within a 10-year period (1999-2009), the number of new autonomous regions had reached 205 regions, consisting of seven new provinces, 164 new districts, and 34 new cities.
Now Indonesia has 33 provinces, 398 districts, and 93 cities thanks to the regional autonomy program.
(Uu.A051/HAJM/H-YH)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
