The following article was translated into English Version. The original article was published on December 14, 2022, and can be found on Instagram @rupapolitikid
Heru Budi Hartono was appointed as the Acting Governor of DKI Jakarta in October, replacing Anies Baswedan whose term had ended. He will hold this responsibility until November 2024. Within approximately two months of his term, Heru has made several controversial decisions, perceived as arbitrary and drawing criticism from various quarters.Â
Let's take a closer look...
DKI's APBD Swells by 1.2 Trillion
On November 25, 2022, the DKI Jakarta Regional Budget Draft (RAPBD) for 2023 was approved, with a budget increase reaching 1.2 trillion Indonesian Rupiah, totaling 83.78 trillion Rupiah. This budget was approved by the legislative council, DPRD DKI Jakarta. To manage this budget increase, it will be covered by the remaining budget surplus (SiLPA) of DKI.
Increase in Expert Staff Salaries
There was an increase in the salaries of two types of non-civil servant expert staff in DKI Jakarta, with remuneration set at around 29.05 million Rupiah. This increase covers policy analysts with a salary of 19.65 million Rupiah and support staff with a salary of 9.4 million Rupiah. This change was implemented through the issuance of DKI Governor Regulation Number 1155 of 2022 last November. Reportedly, the financing of these honorariums will be borne by the Regional Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBD DKI) through the budget implementation document of the Jakarta Provincial Secretariat.
Removal of Bike Lane Budget
During Anies's tenure, a budget of 38 billion Rupiah was allocated for bike lanes, but this budget was eliminated to be redirected towards the construction of other facilities. This decision sparked criticism from various parties, including LBH Jakarta, Bike to Work, and Greenpeace Indonesia.
Controversial Job Rotation
Heru rotated Marullah Matali from the position of DKI Secretary to Deputy Governor of DKI for Culture and Tourism. This rotation has received criticism from politicians, with many suggesting that there are political motivations behind Heru's decision to find new figures to support the Acting Governor's performance in the future. Uus Kuswanto has been appointed as the Acting DKI Secretary for the time being, prompting further criticism that Heru did not consult the DPRD DKI beforehand, as stated by the Chairman of the Betawi Children's Communication Forum, Abdul Ghoni, claiming that Heru's decision is seen as disrespectful to Betawi children.
Overhaul of Regional Owned Enterprises Directors
In addition to the job rotation of the Secretary, Heru has repeatedly carried out reshuffles among several BUMD directorates in various companies, such as PT Jakarta Propertindo (Jakpro), Bank DKI, PT LRT Jakarta, and PT MRT Jakarta. This suggests an abuse of power, causing political tensions for either private or public gain. In a written statement, it was mentioned that this overhaul is following Article 91 of Law No. 40 of 2007 regarding Limited Liability Companies and is also a form of 'refreshment' for the body of BP BUMD.
Heru Budi Hartono's Political Taste
The various changes in the DKI Jakarta provincial government imply an act of abuse of power by the Acting Governor. From job rotations and BUMD reshuffles to the ballooning provincial budget, we need to understand, review, and delve into what lies behind all of this. Especially now, as the situation approaches the 2024 elections, the political temperature in the country is rising. Political officials are maneuvering through survey wars, volunteer declarations, and discussions about coalition parties.
Heru's desire, along with those behind him, to choose a new person who 'possibly' shares the same political taste to support his performance as the Acting Governor may indicate an intention to extend Heru's political influence beyond the DKI Jakarta province. It can be said that Heru's actions in removing many directors imply an effort to erase Anies Baswedan's legacy. Ahmad Nur Hidayat, an economist and Policy Expert at Narasi Institute, believes that Heru's numerous controversial decisions may jeopardize his leadership and increase tension among the public, especially the Betawi residents.
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