Bakamla's Budget Is Reduced By Rp 354.8 Billion, According To The DPR: The Waters Of The NKRI Lack Oversight

KOMPAS.com/Tria Sutrisna

Bakamla's Budget Is Reduced By Rp 354.8 Billion, According To The DPR: The Waters Of The NKRI Lack Oversight

Friday, 28 Feb 2025

The Indonesian Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla) has faced a significant budget cut, raising concerns among members of Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives about the potential weakening of maritime security in the country. The head of Bakamla, Admiral TNI Irvansyah, announced that the budget for 2025 is set at IDR 1.08 trillion. However, Bakamla has been instructed to achieve budget efficiency of IDR 648.5 billion, leaving a remaining budget of only IDR 436.1 billion. "Today, Thursday, February 13, 2025, the Minister of Finance issued letter number S75 regarding the follow-up on budget efficiency for ministries and agencies in the implementation of the 2025 state budget. The efficiency for Bakamla RI is IDR 354,817,664,000. Thus, Bakamla RI's budget is now IDR 729,901,261,000," Irvansyah stated during a working meeting with Commission I of the House of Representatives on Thursday (February 13, 2025).

After the budget adjustments, Irvansyah noted that the budget for maritime security and safety programs has decreased to IDR 500.9 billion, down from the previous allocation of IDR 863.2 billion. He mentioned that the remaining budget for management support is IDR 204.9 billion. Bakamla RI also expressed its support for Presidential Instruction Number 1 of 2025 and appreciated the budget reconstruction provided. However, Irvansyah proposed changes to the efficiency details to ensure that operational needs, especially for maritime security patrols, are met.

"We propose reducing the budget for goods from IDR 204 billion to IDR 110.2 billion, while suggesting an increase in the capital expenditure efficiency from IDR 150.4 billion to IDR 244.5 billion. This change is aimed at supporting Bakamla's operations, including operational goods, maintenance, and maritime security patrols," Irvansyah explained. In response to this presentation, Commission I member TB Hasanuddin from the PDI-P faction reminded that budget efficiency could impact maritime patrol operations.

We recently visited Bakamla in the central sector to observe the patrol boats. TB Hasanuddin stated that the patrol budget, originally around Rp 841 billion, has been reduced by about Rp 330 billion, leaving only Rp 509 billion. He explained that if one patrol and maintenance costs between Rp 300-400 million per day, the budget cut of Rp 330 billion could result in approximately 1,000 patrols not being conducted in a year.

"For instance, if Rp 330 billion is lost in a year, then 1,000 patrols will not take place. This shows how unmonitored the waters of Indonesia are," said TB Hasanuddin. The retired TNI general urged Bakamla to reconsider the budget allocation for maritime security and safety programs. "We hope that the Head of Bakamla can adjust the budget points that might still be reduced and redirected to the main task of safeguarding our waters," concluded TB Hasanuddin.

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