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Jakarta governor's monthly operational fund totals Rp 4.5 billion
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Governor of DKI Jakarta Anies Baswedan deliver his speech during the DPRD hearing in Jakarta, wednesday, November 15, 2017. Durig The hearing Anies deliver his speech on the Regional Budget Draft (RAPBD) and his vision-Mission during his tenure. (JP/Seto Wardhana.)
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akarta Governor Anies Baswedan and his deputy Sandiaga Uno are reportedly receiving Rp 4.5 billion (US$332,963) in operational funds per month, the same amount Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama's administration received, which the latter used to pay for, among other things, his expert staffers salary.
Anies, meanwhile, has preferred to pay for experts staffers from the city's budget instead of using the operational funds, and increase its allocation in the city’s 2018 draft budget to Rp 28.5 billion, much higher than the previous allocation of Rp 2.3 billion. He said such a scheme would be "more transparent and accountable."
"For October, the total operational fund is still in accordance with the 2017 scheme," Jakarta Gubernatorial and Foreign Affairs Bureau head Muhammad Mawardi said on Tuesday.
He explained that the governor and his deputy received a combination of Rp 4.5 billion, which was calculated based on 0.13 percent of Jakarta's generated income. Of the figure, Anies received Rp 2.7 billion, while Sandiaga received Rp 1.8 billion, kompas.com reported.
Mawardi said Anies and Sandi were authorized to use the operational funds. He added that like Ahok's administration, the money had been channeled to the governor’s subordinates, including city secretary, mayors and regent, who respectively received Rp 100 million, Rp 50 million and Rp 30 million each.
Anies claimed that the previous administration used money from private companies to pay for expert staffers. The claim has been denied.
Rian Ernest, a staff member of Ahok during his tenure, said funds for expert staffers were usually taken from the governor’s operational fund. He went on to question why Anies does not use the governor’s operational fund to pay for his staff.
On Ahok's Instagram account, which is run by an administrator, he said the operational funds were used for social causes, such as renovating houses of worship and purchasing wheelchairs. (fac)
