JAYAPURA - Papua Governor Lukas Enembe denied the statement from Minister of Finance, Sri Mulyani who said there was a IDR12 trillion fund belonging to the Papua Provincial Government in November, settling in banking. Through his Spokesman, Muhammad Rifai Darus, explained that the IDR12 trillion fund is part or accumulated from the Papua Regional Budget in one fiscal year (FY 2021), which is then spent on the benefit of the people and the region.
"So it becomes wrong if the value of the Regional Budget is deposited in the bank," said Governor Enembe, in Jayapura, Wednesday (1/12/2021). Still, according to Spokesman Rifai Darus, the Governor also questioned the reason for the Minister of Finance to deliver the statement, because it did not mention other provinces. Whereas delivered there was recorded IDR226 trillion of funds in banking originating from all provinces in Indonesia.
On the other hand, in the context of central and regional relations, the government through the Minister of Finance has the task and function of conducting Binwasdal (coaching, supervising and controlling) on financial management governance in the region, including in Papua. Thus, if there is an indication that the Papua Provincial Government is less effective and efficient in conducting regional financial governance, the Minister of Finance should first do coaching, supervising and controlling.
"This means that the Governor of Papua regrets if the Ministry of Finance's assessment of the financial management performance of the Papua Provincial Government is not carried out in the context of the coaching, supervising and controlling mechanism. Instead, it is conveyed through statements in the mass media, which can certainly cause multi-interpretation and noise," he stressed. Governor Enembe added Rifai, expecting Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani to immediately clarify the statement in a complete and objective manner. In order not to cause unrest, because it has now become a "wild ball" that has spread to the public.
"In essence, the Governor deeply regrets the statement of the Minister of Finance of the Republic of Indonesia which is multi-interpretation and resulted in a number of issues circulating with an incorrect and unfounded context. In addition, there is (the potential) for considerable turmoil in Papua to question the statement of the Minister of Finance of the Republic of Indonesia," he said.
Previously, Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani asserted that the central government had provided sufficient transfer funds for Papua. As of November 2021, there is still IDR12 trillion in banking. This was revealed by Sri Mulyani after inaugurating Jayapura State Finance building, on Friday (11/26/2021) afternoon.
The Minister of Finance also responded to the issue of the repatriation of Papuan students. "So if the scholarship fund cannot be paid, even though the money is still a lot, which is IDR12 trillion in banking, it has not been used," said Sri Mulyani. ***