Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) reminded all stakeholders that social assistance provided by the local governments for mitigating the impacts of the Corona Virus Disease (Covid-19) pandemic must never be used to serve any sort of political purposes as the country is approaching the 2020 simultaneous local election.

This message was delivered by KPK during the integrated coordination meeting of corruption prevention for regional IX West Sumatera Province last week (30/04). The teleconference was attended by the honorable representatives from all provincial, regency, and municipal governments throughout West Sumatera.

There are at least 14 local government entities that will participate in the West Sumatera local election, namely West Sumatera Province, Solok City, Bukittinggi City, Solok Regency, Dharmasraya Regency, South Solok Regency, West Pasaman Regency, Pasaman Regency, Pesisir Selatan Regency, Sijunjung Regency, Tanah Datar Regency, Padang Pariaman Regency, Agam Regency, and Lima Puluh Kota Regency.

Records show that the local governments throughout West Sumatera have reallocated a total sum of Rp1.2 trillion from various posts for Covid-19 handling. The largest portion of this Covid-19 budget is allocated for social safety net, which includes Rp572 billion social assistance for people in need. The remaining Rp168.9 billion is to be used for dealing with the economic impacts of the pandemic.

“Considering the huge sum of the Covid-19 budget allocation, KPK will continue to monitor and supervise its implementation,” said Ipi Maryati Kuding, the acting KPK Spokesperson for Prevention.

Ipi explained that KPK has also issued three letters or circulars concerning the application of Social Prosperity Integrated Data (DTKS) and non-DTKS data in activities related to the distribution of social assistance to people in need, the receipt and management of third-party donations which fall into the “non-gratuity” category, and the budget implementation for the provision of goods and services for handling Covid-19. “Because of that, KPK invites the local governments to refer to our circulars to find the procedures and techniques for handling Covid-19 in West Sumatera,” she said.

During the coordination meeting, KPK also informs the participants about the focus of corruption prevention in 2020 that consists of state governance improvement, local finance and assets recovery, as well as other specific projects. KPK also required the local governments to fulfill and carry out the action plan reflected in several indicators that have been implemented since 2018.

“Based on KPK’s evaluation, West Sumatera has shown a gradual increase in its general development over the past several years,” said Ipi. Records show that the province’s Monitoring Center for Prevention (MCP) achievement had increased from 72% in 2018 to 77% in 2019. Compared to other regions in Indonesia, West Sumatera’s achievement is higher than the national average in both years. The national average was 58% in 2018 and 68% in 2019.

In spite of this positive outcome, KPK also wished that the local government would also take into account several recommendations with regard to the eight intervention areas to improve local governance. Two of them concern control and recovery of assets and local revenue optimization (OPD)

With regard to assets, KPK has identified issues related to disputes over asset ownership and uncertified assets. Among such assets are around 10,000 local government lands which are still uncertified, more than 120 public facilities and social facilities which have not been handed over from the developers to the local government, and more than 50 local government assets in dispute with a third party, as well as other assets which are still in the possession of unentitled individuals.

Meanwhile, with regard to local revenue optimization (OPD), KPK has also found a number of issues such as insufficient tax and levy payer database, a potential decrease in original local revenue (PAD) due to the Covid-19 pandemics, uncollected tax receivables, insignificant increase in West Sumatera’s original local revenue, and heavy losses sustained by most local-owned enterprises (BUMD).

“KPK really hopes that these issues remain on the local government’s priority list in spite of the Covid-19 pandemic. These must be handled by applying the principles of good governance and avoiding all manners of corrupt practices,” said Ipi.