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akarta: Home Ministry local budget director Hamdani says the government cannot probe the alleged misallocation of Rp 391 billion (US$45.5 million) in grants and social assistance funds of the Banten provincial budget.

Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) reported that the grants and funds had been disbursed to organizations apparently chaired by the family of Banten Governor Ratu Atut Chosiyah.

Hamdani said the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), the
Supreme Audit Agency (BPK), the General Elections Commission (KPU)
and the Election Supervisory Body (Bawaslu) should handle the disbursement issue.

He said the ministry could only advise the province’s budget team not to hand grants or funds to organizations run by the governor’s family.

“We will advise the budget team in September. They will report on the disbursement of these grants and funds for social assistance,” Hamdani said.

ICW political corruption division coordinator Ade Irawan said the Banten local elections (pilkada) on October 11 contributed to wrongful disbursement.

“Organizations run by governor’s family are set as fund resources for Ratu’s reelection this year,” Ade said.

He said that 14 organizations run by the governor’s family had received
Rp 29.1 billion in grants, including the Banten branch of the Indonesia Red Cross (PMI) that received Rp 900 million and is run by the governor’s sister, Ratu Tatu Chasanah.

The province allocated a Rp 3.6 billion grant for the minor umroh hajj pilgrimage to 150 local leaders and for the governor’s Ramadhan Safari.

“To prevent a potential wrongful disbursement, we hope that during local general elections the local budget should not allocate to grants and funds for social assistance,” said Ade.