State Secretary Sees No Issue with Increasing Attorney General's Budget to Prevent Corruption

Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi stated that the government has no issue with increasing the budget for oversight bodies and law enforcement agencies. This would apply if it is necessary to strengthen the prevention of criminal acts of corruption in the implementation of government programmes.

“If it becomes part of the consequence of strengthening supervision, we think there is no problem because it is better to increase the budget to prevent criminal acts of corruption,” Prasetyo said at the Presidential Palace complex in Jakarta, Thursday evening WIB.

The statement was in response to the Indonesian President’s directive at the National Consolidation of the Free Nutritious Meals Programme organised by the National Nutrition Agency in Bogor Regency, West Java, on Wednesday. The President specifically wants to strengthen the budget for the Attorney General’s Office and other law enforcement agencies.

Prasetyo explained that the directive is not only aimed at overseeing the Free Nutritious Meals programme but all government programmes that use state funds. According to him, President Prabowo has asked law enforcement officers, such as the Attorney General’s Office, the National Police, the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency, and the Corruption Eradication Commission, to continue carrying out their supervisory functions optimally.

“If they require strengthening, it should be conveyed to the President. Indeed, our spirit is to truly try as hard as possible to combat this culture of corruption,” Prasetyo relayed.

Prasetyo said that all government programmes are essentially already within a supervision mechanism. The Financial and Development Supervisory Agency, as the government’s internal auditor, routinely supervises the processes taking place in ministries and institutions.