Signing New Circular, Minister of Home Affairs Says Regional Head Retreat Budget is Entirely from APBN

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian issued the latest circular regarding the leadership orientation or retreat activities of 505 regional heads and deputy regional heads elected from the 2024 Simultaneous Regional Elections. In the letter dated February 13, 2025, the revised matter is regarding the financing of activities which are fully funded by the APBN. This means that it is not borne together (cost sharing) with regional heads as in the previous circular.

Circular Letter of the Minister of Home Affairs Number 200.5/692/SJ is urgent and was signed by the Minister of Home Affairs Muhammad Tito Karnavian, Thursday (13/2/2025). The letter is addressed to governors and deputy governors; regents and deputy regents; as well as mayors and deputy mayors throughout Indonesia.

The content of the letter is to follow up on the previous SE Number 200.5/628/SJ signed on February 11, 2025. The letter has been widely circulated in cyberspace, especially on platform X, since Wednesday-Thursday (12-13/2/2025). Netizens have criticized the large budget that must be spent on the retreat activities of regional heads at the Military Academy, Magelang, Central Java, as it is being conducted at a time when the government is vigorously promoting budget savings or efficiency.

Through the latest circular, Tito conveyed that the financing of leadership orientation activities for regional heads and deputy regional heads in 2025 at the Military Academy, Magelang, is fully funded by the state budget sourced from the Ministry of Home Affairs' Budget Implementation List (DIPA).

For further matters regarding the implementation of the orientation, regional heads and deputy regional heads are requested to contact the Human Resources Development Agency (BPSDM) of the Ministry of Home Affairs at Jalan Taman Makam Pahlawan Number 8, Kalibata, South Jakarta.

The circular letter was copied to the President of the Republic of Indonesia, the Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia, the Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, the State Secretary of the Republic of Indonesia, and the Cabinet Secretary.

Previously reported, 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 20th, circulated. Referring to the letter, the briefing activities could consume at least Rp 22 billion of regional budgets. 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 deputy regional heads 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 their inauguration on February 20 is said to take place at Glamping Borobudur International Golf, Magelang, for eight days, specifically from February 21-28.

The letter also states the cost of the activity that is shared (cost sharing) between the Ministry of Home Affairs and the regional government. The Ministry of Home Affairs pays the cost of organizing the activity. The cost of accommodation, food, transportation, and equipment that must be brought during the briefing is paid by the regional head and deputy regional head.

The cost value that must be borne by the regional head according to the circular is Rp 2,750,000 per day. If multiplied by 8 days, the total cost that must be spent during the retreat at Akmil, 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.

Researcher of the Indonesian Budget Transparency Forum (Fitra) Gunardi Ridwan, said, if seen from the spirit of synchronizing central and regional programs, the purpose 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 the concentration to manage their regions after being inaugurated," Gunardi 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, requests 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," Gunardi 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," said Gunardi.

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 also not be as much as if the retreat was held in one place, such as at Akmil Magelang.