Circulating Circular of Minister of Home Affairs Circulating Circulation of Regional Head Orientation, Retreat Could Spend IDR 22 Billion Budget

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – In the virtual world, a circular letter from the Minister of Home Affairs regarding the planned retreat for 505 regional heads elected in the 2024 Regional Head Elections, who will be inaugurated on February 20, is circulating. According to the letter, the briefing activities could consume at least Rp 22 billion from the regional budget. The large expenditure is considered contradictory amidst President Prabowo Subianto's instructions to streamline state spending.

Since Wednesday (12/2/2025), Circular Letter Number 200.5/628/SJ from the Minister of Home Affairs addressed to governors and deputy governors, regents and deputy regents, as well as mayors and deputy mayors throughout Indonesia has gone viral on social media. The letter contains information regarding leadership orientation for regional heads and their deputies in 2025.

The leadership orientation or often referred to as a retreat for 505 heads and deputy heads of regions resulting from the 2024 Regional Head Elections (Pilkada) after they were inaugurated on February 20, took place at Glamping Borobudur International Golf, Magelang, for eight days, precisely from February 21-28.

In the letter, the costs of activities to be shared (cost sharing) between the Ministry of Home Affairs and local governments are also listed. The Ministry of Home Affairs covers the costs of organizing the activities. Meanwhile, the costs of accommodation, consumption, transportation, and equipment to be brought during the training are paid by the regional heads and their deputies.

The cost that must be borne by the regional head as stated in the circular letter is Rp 2,750,000 per day. If multiplied by 8 days, the total cost incurred during the retreat at the Military Academy in Magelang is Rp 22 million per person.

Thus, with the number of regional heads participating amounting to 505 people from 505 regions, the cost incurred is around IDR 11.1 billion. However, if deputy regional heads are instructed to participate in the retreat, it means that the minimum cost to be borne by the regional budget is around IDR 22.2 billion. The amount spent could be even greater because the regional heads and their deputies have the potential to bring their aides and teams to participate in the activity.

When asked about the authenticity of the circular letter, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Bima Arya Sugiarto had not yet responded by the time this news was published. Meanwhile, Acting Head of the Information Center of the Ministry of Home Affairs Aang Witarsa was reluctant to answer questions regarding the letter. He only stated that the retreat activities would still be discussed at the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The Executive Director of the Regional Autonomy Implementation Monitoring Committee (KPPOD), Herman N Suparman, when contacted on Thursday (13/2/2025), stated that, in terms of urgency, the retreat or leadership orientation program at the Magelang Military Academy is aimed at synchronizing policies and development programs between the central and regional governments.

With that goal of harmonization, according to him, the eight-day briefing program will not be effective. "Not effective, why? Because the issue of the lack of synchronization between the central and regional governments so far actually stems from strategic policies. For example, the disharmony between the Regional Government Law and sectoral laws," explained Herman.

The inconsistency of Law Number 23 of 2014 concerning Regional Government with the Mineral and Coal Law, the Job Creation Law, for example, according to Herman, is actually the source of obstacles to the formation of central and regional harmonization. The inconsistency of the regulations hinders the orchestration between ministries and institutions in the context of coaching and supervision to the regions. That is also what causes sectoral ministries to run alone, out of sync with the regions.

"That is the root that causes the lack of synchronization between the center and the regions. Not to mention, in the context of central government guidance and supervision of the regions, for example, regarding planning. How to synchronize the RPJMD with the RPJMN? How to synchronize the Government Work Plan (RKP) with the RKPD?," he said.

If the goal of the retreat is directed to solve the problem, Herman also said it would not be effective. In fact, he considered the retreat activity would waste the budget amidst the intense direction of state budget efficiency.

Instead of gathering regional heads and deputy regional heads at Akmil, Magelang, President Prabowo Subianto can take advantage of advances in information technology by holding online meetings, for example with the Zoom meeting application.

Moreover, according to Herman, reflecting on the provisioning programs so far, they usually move sectorally. For example, it is carried out simultaneously with the National Development Planning Conference (Musrenbang). The National Musrenbang can be an opportunity for the central government to convey priority programs or special directions from the president.

"Through events from sectoral ministries, it is also possible. Where they usually present regional governments to listen to central programs in their respective ministries. Because, simultaneous retreats during the budget efficiency period are actually wasteful or spend unfair budgets for the regions," he said.

The activity could also be considered unfair because the retreat is a central program, but the region must prepare the budget. From the budget estimate listed in the Minister of Home Affairs' circular, Herman is sure that there is still a budget need for other technical matters so that the costs incurred could be greater. It is also impossible to take it from the regional head's personal pocket, but will be charged to the APBD.

"In fact, the regional budget has been cut by Rp50.59 trillion in accordance with the Decree of the Minister of Finance on the Cancellation of Distribution of Palm Oil Revenue Sharing Funds (DBH) and DBH tobacco excise. This has made regional fiscal space increasingly depressed," he said.

Meanwhile, according to the Researcher of the Indonesian Budget Transparency Forum (Fitra) Gunardi Ridwan, if seen from the spirit of synchronizing central and regional programs, the aim of the regional head retreat is actually good.

However, the problem is the inefficient activity model. "We consider it not only inefficient, both in terms of budget, but also in terms of time. Moreover, regional heads should certainly have concentration to manage their regions after being inaugurated," he said.

In addition, Presidential Instruction (Inpres) Number 1 of 2025 concerning Spending Efficiency in the Implementation of the State Budget and Regional Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBD) for the 2025 Fiscal Year signed by President Prabowo on January 22, 2025, requested restrictions on official and ceremonial travel. "But why can't the central government set an example for the regions? This could actually trigger conflict between levels of government," he said.

Fitra hopes that the President can choose more effective methods amidst his instructions for efficiency or savings in the state budget.

"It is better to use more effective methods, for example, utilizing online meetings. Even if it is done face-to-face, it can be done regionally. So, friends from the center go to the regions. For example, starting from the Sumatra region. That will be much more effective," he said.

With regional provision, according to Gunardi, the consequence is that the energy of regional heads is not drained. In terms of accommodation costs, it will not be as much as if the retreat was in one place such as in Akmil Magelang.

Another option, it could be that only the governors are gathered to listen to the direction and programs of the central government. Then, the governors as extensions of the central government forward it to the regents/mayors in their respective provinces. This option is also considered more effective in conveying central policies and programs.

"In a discussion or seminar event, when hundreds come, sometimes the effectiveness is lacking. Moreover, those who come are regional heads, who are political in position or position. Those who understand the technical aspects are actually the heads of departments, or regional secretaries because they understand the technocracy," he explained.