Through Table Tennis Match, Ministry of Social Affairs-BPKP Made Intimate Inter-Agency Relations

JAKARTA (May 16, 2023) - Formal relations between state institutions do not only take place through formal channels. Informal channels are no less effective in uniting differences and increasing synergy.

Given the importance of building relationships through informal channels, Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini decided to attend the office of the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP). The Minister was present to open the table tennis match for BPKP's 40th Anniversary in Jakarta, Tuesday.

"Happy 40th Anniversary BPKP. Since becoming a minister, I have attended the BPKP Anniversary event twice. I think this event is very important because we can communicate freely," said the Minister of Social Affairs after participating in a table tennis exhibition match against the Head of BPKP in the East Hall of the BPKP Building, Jakarta, Tuesday (16/05).

The Minister of Social Affairs said that this activity was a way to communicate freely. The challenges are not always effectively resolved through formal channels.

Often, she continued, solving problems (in government) through formal channels takes a long time to solve. Meanwhile, according to her, synergy is very much needed because it is impossible for one problem to be solved by just one sector.

"Our relationship is close with BPKP so if there are mistakes or different perceptions, we can immediately resolve them. I get a lot of input on activities management at Ministry of Social Affairs. I have done this previously. If there is a problem, we discuss it so that there are no material findings," said the Minister of Social Affairs.

In the same spirit, the Head of BPKP Muhammad Yusuf Ateh said that there needs to be synergy, collaboration and cooperation to build a common perception.

"We synergize every day. As the Minister said, there needs to be synergy, collaboration, cooperation, and a common perception. If it is already dynamic like this, it is easy for us to maintain it. Thus, there are no obstacles," said Ateh.

The working partner relationship between BPKP and the Ministry of Social Affairs includes supervision of social welfare programs and financial management. Of the total budget of the Ministry of Social Affairs in 2023 of IDR78 trillion, IDR74 trillion is for social protection programs that are directly handed over to beneficiaries.

"Thank you for the good cooperation so far to maintain national development, especially (Ministry of Social Affairs) for the provision of social assistance," said Ateh.

He also said that his party will continue to improve performance to maintain financial and development oversight.

"Hopefully this (work) of the ministries (and institutions) can run well and can be accounted for properly at the end of the year," he concluded.

The match was held to foster a spirit of sport in the office and community environment, as well as foster friendship, unity, and strengthen ties between partners.

Also participating in the event were representatives from other partner Ministries/Institutions, namely the Audit Board of Indonesia (BPK), Cabinet Secretariat, Ministry of Social Affairs, State Administration Agency (LAN), Geospatial Information Agency (BIG), Central Statistics Agency (BPS), Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla), Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Agency (BP2MI), and the National Narcotics Agency (BNN).