Long-term implications or new budget bill

The new bill on non-tax revenues submitted to the House of Representatives is part of an effort to improve budgetary discipline. The bill, presented on Monday by Minister of Finance Mar'ie Muhammad, was welcomed by legislators.

It could be coincidence that the bill was submitted following the public uproar regarding the transfer of government funds to a cabinet minister's personal bank account. It is likely that the bill represents a response to the public's complaints about the growing tendency for public funds to be misused.

We welcome the bill and hope it will help create a strong and clean government as well as more efficient public services and greater public initiative. These conditions are important to reassure investors, foreign investors in particular. Many of them have complained about complicated bureaucratic procedures and how they make their operations in Indonesia more expensive. This affects our competitive ability to attract foreign investment and to boost international trade.

While in the short run it should improve budgetary discipline, the bill is also another step towards achieving the long-term goals of a healthy bureaucracy and improved public services.

-- Bisnis Indonesia, Jakarta