"We appreciate the police's steps to reveal this case. Because the police's steps are in line with the efforts of the Ministry of Social Affairs to apply the principles of accountability in budget management, especially in the procurement of basic foodstuffs for handling the COVID-19 pandemic, ”said the Secretary General of the Ministry of Social Affairs Hartono Laras, in Jakarta (29/07).
The Secretary General's statement responds to the police's steps in processing reports of suspected criminal fraud and / or embezzlement in the provision of social assistance.
Citing a police report, this case involved a cooperative relationship between R and T in the procurement of goods. The goods in question are basic necessities in the form of rice, cooking oil, instant noodles, sardines and chili sauce to be used in the Government's procurement project for COVID-19 Social Assistance.
The work agreement of the two parties regulates the payment of goods ordered with an advance payment system and after the goods arrive, the payment is made according to the amount of goods received.
Total as a supplier of goods, T asked R to pay a down payment. However, after the goods arrived, around June, it turned out that the specs and quantities did not match. Feeling aggrieved, R reported this case to the police.
Furthermore, the Secretary General stated that the ranks of the Ministry of Social Affairs are serious about ensuring that budget expenditures run according to existing regulations. "Including social assistance spending for handling people affected by COVID-19. We ensure that the procurement process is transparent. In that process, we are supervised by related agencies, "he said.
The parties that supervise the Ministry of Social Affairs are the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK), the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP), as well as the Government Goods / Services Procurement Policy Agency (LKPP), and so on. But extra supervision is also needed, including from the public through the media.
"The media can also monitor the Ministry of Social Affairs. Because this assistance involves a very large budget, and the recipients of the aid also reach tens of millions. With this willingness to be monitored, we want to convey a message to the public that the Ministry of Social Affairs is serious about implementing good governance, "he said.