Legislator Urges Regional Heads to Maximise DPR RI Forum to Access State Budget
Jakarta (ANTARA) - During the launch of the DPR RI Forum for the Riau Constituency, Hendry Munief, a member of Commission VII of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), urged regional heads to maximise the forum as a strategic tool to advocate for regional development through access to the State Budget (APBN) from the central government.
The member of the DPR RI for the Riau Constituency I considers this forum to be a vital momentum for strengthening synergy between local governments and the national legislature. “Utilise members of the DPR RI as an extension of regional heads to the central government, because members of the DPR RI play a role in the execution of the State Budget,” Hendry stated in a press release received in Jakarta on Monday.
He emphasised the importance of DPR RI members acting as a bridge between local and central governments, particularly regarding budget allocation through the APBN. The launch event was attended by the Acting Governor of Riau, SF Hariyanto, the Regional Secretary of Riau Province, Syahril Abdi, and various officials from the Riau Provincial Government, alongside 12 regional heads or representatives from regencies and cities across Riau.
Acting Governor SF Hariyanto highlighted the increasing fiscal constraints faced by the region, particularly following the implementation of the Law on Financial Relations between the Central Government and Regional Governments (UU HKPD). He noted that while several development indicators in Riau remain above the national average, various challenges require collective attention. “Some indicators in Riau Province are still above the national average. However, many areas still require our joint attention. We are experiencing budget limitations; even during my time as a civil servant, this is the lowest level we have seen,” he remarked.
Hariyanto also expressed hope for concrete support from DPR RI members to assist in accelerating development in Riau through central budget allocations. Echoing the Acting Governor, the Chairman of the Riau Regional House of Representatives (DPRD), Kaderismanto, stressed the importance of collective attention to the condition of Regional Transfer Funds (TKD), which serve as a primary source of regional development financing. “Through this forum, we hope to encourage and assist local governments in maintaining better regional fiscal health,” he said.
The DPR RI Forum for the Riau Constituency is expected to serve as an effective platform to align development programmes between the central and regional governments, while strengthening cross-sector coordination to accelerate development within Riau Province.