The Financial Services Authority (OJK) and the Indonesian Ombudsman have agreed to work together to prevent potential disputes in the financial sector as people’s awareness of the industry continues to rapidly rise.

In a speech during the signing of the cooperation agreement on Friday, Ombudsman chairman Amzulian Rifai said the cooperation was important as the Ombudsman had seen an increasing number of complaints regarding public services in the financial sector, something that should be handled first by the OJK if the cases could still be resolved within the financial authority’s domain.

“We sometimes think that some cases [from the financial sector] could still be resolved by the OJK without the need for consumers to report them to the Ombudsman,” he said.

“The Ombudsman can only receive reports if there is no resolution from internal mechanisms in banks and financial companies.”

(Read also: Fake endorsements used in investment scams: OJK)

Under the cooperation, the Ombudsman will be responsible for monitoring public services provided by state institutions, state-owned enterprises (SOEs) as well as private bodies and individuals appointed to serve the public.

Throughout 2016, the Ombudsman received 9,069 complaints regarding public services in the financial sector, higher than the 6,859 recorded in 2015. Last year, the agency received 163 complaints regarding services provided by state-owned banks, 48 of which were related to procedural breaches.

OJK chairman Muliaman D. Hadad said the agreement with the Ombudsman would be enhanced into a further technical partnership since one of the authority’s responsibilities was to provide consumer education and protection. (hwa)