Dissolving BPKP, saving money

Dissolving BPKP, saving money

Delivering his speech at the People's Consultative Assembly
(MPR) Annual Session, the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) chief Satrio
B. Joedono proposed that the MPR dissolve the Development and
Financial Control Board (BPKP) and merge it into BPK for reasons
of cost efficiency and avoidance of audit duplication.

As our country is now sustaining a huge debt, the MPR should
immediately take up this suggestion and follow it up by deciding
to dissolve the BPKP. The proposal is reasonable and objective,
without any political motive. There is no reason why the MPR
should not accept it.

In fact, besides the BPKP, the Supreme Advisory Council (DPA)
and some other ministries, whose contribution to the country to
promote the country's economy is doubtful, such as the State
Ministry for Women's Empowerment, the State Ministry for
Administrative Reforms and the Ministry for Religious Affairs,
should be dissolved.

Others, such as the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of
Forestry and the Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries
could be consolidated to become one, while the State Ministry for
Eastern Indonesian Development could be made part of the National
Development Planning Agency. Next, the State Ministry for Tourism
and Culture should be merged with the Transportation Ministry,
etc.

Other ministries, whose survival needs to be reviewed too,
should streamline some of the organizations under their
supervision, like institutions, agencies, ad hoc teams,
commissions and other non-ministerial bodies that have taken much
of the state budget.

Singapore, a rich country in southeast Asia, has become
worried about its economic situation and has immediately taken
various measures to protect its economy in order to prepare
itself for the impact of the Sept.11 attacks on the twin towers
of the World Trade Center, a phenomenon likely to plunge the
world economy into a severe recession.

H. WISDARMANTO GS

Jakarta