Only 63.3% of regions transfer Regional Election funds

IO – Acting Executive of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Directorate General of Regional Financial Direction, Mochammad Ardian, has admitted that according to the Ministry’s Regional Grant Agreement (Naskah Perjanjian Hibah Daerah – “NPHD”), only 171 regions (63.3%) out of the 270 regions holding Regional Elections on 9 December 2020 have liquidated 100% of the aid allotted to the Regional Election Commission (Komisi Pemilihan Umum Daerah – “KPUD”) as of 16 July 2020. At least 49 Regional Governments have transferred 100% of their Regional Election aid for security, including the Provincial Governments of Jambi and Central Kalimantan. “The Ministry of Home Affairs continues to encourage regional governments to become optimistic and transfer 100% of the NPHD funds,” he said in an official statement made on Friday (17/07/2020). 

NPHD funds originate from the Regional Budget, and are meant to be distributed to the Elections Commission (Komisi Pemilihan Umum – “KPU”), the Election Supervisory Agency (Badan Pengawas Pemilihan Umum – “Bawaslu”), and organizations ensuring security precautions for Regional Elections. The amount budgeted for Regional Elections differs from region to region, and depends on their respective abilities. The amount for NPHD is agreed between the KPUD in charge of holding Regional Elections and the relevant Regional Elections. The total amount of NPHD funds agreed between the KPUDs and Regional Governments is IDR 10.9 trillion, while the total NPHD agreed between Regional Governments and the Bawaslu is in a IDR 4 trillion to IDR 5 trillion range. 

Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian has set the target for NPHD liquidation to be completed by 15 July 2020. Head of Information Center and Acting Executive of the Ministry of Home Affairs’ Directorate General of Politics and General Government, Bahtiar, requests that the laggard regions complete the transfer of the aid to KPU and Bawaslu in order to get the 2020 Simultaneous Regional Elections going, as this fund is necessary for electoral operations. “Six regencies and municipalities have not completed transfers to KPUDs and five regencies and municipalities have not completed transfers to Regional Bawaslu,” Bahtiar stated in his written press statement on Wednesday (22/07/2020). 

Bahtiar reminds all that the Inspectorate General of the Ministry of Home Affairs will represent the Central Government in reviewing and monitoring the regional petty cash of the lagging regions. The check is performed in order to prevent funds being withheld and not transferred even though the relevant Regional Government has sufficient funds. The 2020 Regional Elections are a fundamental national program explicitly regulated in the Constitution. Therefore, fund transfers to KPUD and Regional Bawaslu are mandatory. 

The six regions owing transfers to KPUD: 

1. Regency of North Halmahera, with an NPHD of IDR 27,855,053,700.00. So far, it has only transferred IDR 10,982,038,200.00 or 39.43%. 
2. Municipality of Ternate, with an NPHD of IDR 28.550.000.000. So far, it has only transferred IDR 10,874,045,000.00 or 38.09% 
3. Regency of Karawang, with an NPHD of IDR 84,070,822,900.00. So far, it has only transferred IDR 31,342,161,200.00 or 37.28%. 
4. Regency of East Seram, with an NPHD of IDR 32,500,000,000.00. So far, it has only transferred IDR 12,000,000,000.00 or 36.92%. 
5. Regency of Yahukimo, with an NPHD of IDR 75,000,000,000.00. So far, it has only transferred IDR 26,499,965,000.00, or 35.33%. 
6. Regency of West Halmahera, with an NPHD of IDR 30,580,700,000.00. So far, it has only transferred IDR 10,700,000,000.00 or 34.99%. 

The six regions that owe transfers to Regional Bawaslu: 

1. Regency of West Halmahera, with an NPHD of IDR 9,000,000,000.00. So far, it has only transferred IDR 3,500,000,000.00 or 38.89%. 
2. Municipality of Bandar Lampung, with an NPHD of IDR 19,000,000,000.00. So far, it has only transferred IDR 6,000,000,000 or 31.58%. 
3. Regency of Pulau Taliabu, with an NPHD of IDR 6,500,000,000.00. So far, it has only transferred IDR 1,950,000,000.00 or 30.00%. 
4. Regency of Pegunungan Bintang, with an NPHD of IDR 18,500,000,000.00. So far, it has only transferred IDR 5,550,000,000.00 or 30.00%. 
5. Regency of Samosir, with an NPHD of IDR 7,295,050,000.00. So far, it has only transferred IDR 897,152,000.00 or 12%. (Dan)