Revision of Regional Head Salary Regulations Must Be Accompanied by Strict Supervision
Anti-corruption activist Yunus Husein believes that the government’s plan to revise Government Regulation (PP) Number 109 of 2000 regarding the financial rights of Regional Heads and Deputy Regional Heads is feasible. However, he argues that the revision regulating regional heads’ salaries must be accompanied by a strict, transparent supervision system and clear indicators to prevent opportunities for misconduct.
Yunus considers adjusting the regulations to be a reasonable step in line with current developments. However, he maintains that increases in the financial rights of regional heads should not be granted unconditionally. Disbursement must be based on clear indicators, such as Regional Original Revenue (PAD) performance and the achievements of the regional head.
“The proposal to adjust to current developments is good. However, the disbursement must be linked to strict requirements, such as PAD performance and the achievements of the regional head,” Yunus told Media Indonesia on Thursday.
The former Head of the Indonesian Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK) emphasised that the success of the revision depends not only on the content of the regulation but also on its implementation. Therefore, prevention and supervision systems must be designed effectively and supported by exemplary leadership at both national and regional levels.
Furthermore, he stressed the importance of transparency in policy implementation. This would allow the public, the House of Representatives (DPR), and other stakeholders to monitor the enforcement of the rules, thereby minimising the potential for irregularities.
Yunus reminded that Indonesia already possesses many good regulations; however, the primary issue has historically been implementation and supervision rather than the drafting of the rules themselves. Consequently, if the government revises PP Number 109 of 2000, the application of the rules must be strictly and transparently enforced.
He noted that indicators alone are insufficient, as there remains a potential for report manipulation or financial engineering. Therefore, policy implementation must be open to scrutiny by the public, the DPR, and other interested parties. “Therefore, implementation must be truly open so that there is control from the community, the DPR, and other stakeholders,” he asserted.
He left the technical formulation of the new formula to the government to ensure a policy that is fair to all levels of regional leadership. Additionally, the former National Police Chief proposed a programme of periodic refreshment and training every six months for elected regional heads currently in office.