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Misbakhun urges fellow lawmakers to stop opposing state budget
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All set: House of Representatives members get prepared to attend a plenary meeting at the House complex in Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Oct. 25 (Antara/Wahyu Putro A.)
G
olkar Party politician M. Misbakhun has urged fellow lawmakers to stop opposing the 2018 state budget for garnering popularity, calling such effort as harming the operation of the government.
"All funding allocated in the state budget is for the welfare of the people with no exception, and without taking into account their political background or affiliation," said Misbakhun, who is also a member of the House of Representatives' Commission XI overseeing finances.
If political parties kept opposing the budget merely on political reasons, it would only put the nation at great risks as politicians fail to understand the function of the budget as a tool to achieve development purposes, he said.
Attempts to oppose the budget has particularly become intensive as regional and presidential elections are approaching.
Misbakhun said opposing the 2018 state budget to impress voters was an act that must be opposed by all Indonesians.
During the House of Representatives' plenary session to approve the budget on Wednesday, opposition party Gerindra Party voiced its objection toward the budget while its fellow opposition Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) approved the budget but with some notes.
Gerindra's lawmakers expressed concerns that the government would not be able to achieve its tax revenue target of around Rp 1,600 trillion (US$117.6 billion), given its poor collection so far this year. The tax shortfall will trigger the government to seek more loans to plug the budget deficit. (prm)
