Public Works Ministry Denies Using State Budget for Minister's Family Trip to US
The Indonesian Ministry of Public Works has firmly stated that information claiming Minister Dody Hanggodo, along with his wife and child, would watch the World Cup final using the State Budget is untrue. The ministry confirmed there has been no use of state funds to finance Dody’s family members for overseas visits.
Secretary General of the Ministry of Public Works, Apri Artoto, explained that the letter circulating on social media is an administrative document issued to fulfil visa application requirements through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The letter is neither an approval for official travel nor proof of state budget usage.
“What we need to emphasise is that there is no use of the state budget to finance family members or personal interests. If family members do accompany him, all expenses will be covered by personal funds,” Apri stressed in a written statement on Tuesday.
According to Apri, the Minister’s planned activities in New York remain tentative. Dody’s departure with his entourage still depends on the priority of carrying out state duties domestically, including post-disaster management, accelerating the completion of Sekolah Rakyat, and preparedness for the potential El Niño phenomenon.
Apri also explained that the inclusion of family members’ names in the administrative letter was based on coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During the visa application process, it is recommended that the names of accompanying persons be included in a single letter as part of the administrative requirements.
The Ministry of Public Works stressed that the presence of family members’ names in the administrative document cannot be interpreted as the use of the state budget or as confirmation of travel.
Regarding the circulation of the internal document on social media, the ministry is currently conducting an investigation to determine the source of the leak. If it is proven to have originated internally and there has been a violation of official document management regulations, action will be taken in accordance with applicable rules.
The Ministry of Public Works urged the public not to readily believe incomplete information and to always prioritise facts. The ministry assured that all state budget usage is carried out in an accountable, transparent manner and in accordance with statutory regulations.