Erwida Maulia, Jakarta – The Home Ministry says it has revoked 706 "problematic" economic bylaws during the first 100 days of the new government, citing they breach higher regulations.
Home Minister Gamawan Fauzi said he had handed the bylaws to the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK), which is expected to reference the bylaws in its audit of regional finance reports.
"The ministry has handed over the problematic bylaws to the BPK for supervision. To related regional administrations, I ask that you withdraw the revoked bylaws. Revoking the bylaws is part of the Home Ministry's first 100-day program," Gamawan told tempointeraktif.com on Tuesday.
He spoke at the national working meeting of the Indonesian Regency Administrations' Association (Apkasi) in Madiun, East Java, which was officiated by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
The ministry earlier coordinated with the BPK in dealing with more than 1,200 problematic bylaws revoked since 2002 and said they were against the regional policy's spirit.
Director general for regional financial administration management Timbul Pudjianto was reported as saying that most revoked bylaws ruled on levies from taxes and retributions, which are imposed by regions to increase revenue.
"The revoked bylaws are almost surely related to money," Timbul said.
In his speech Tuesday, Gamawan reminded regional administration chiefs not to set regulations that were against higher ones.
He said policies made at regional level, as with higher ones, should be aimed at improving public service, adding that many regions did not provide quality service.
Gamawan cited as an example "one-door" licensing services. He said only 75 percent of more than 500 regencies and municipalities could provide this in Indonesia.
Apkasi chief Sujono admitted that many regional-level officials did not effectively manage regions, resulting in reliance on the central government to process business and investment licenses.
At the event, Yudhoyono told state officials at both central and local levels, to implement what he dubbed "mobile services".
"Many people don't know how to process driving licenses, birth certificates and land certificates among others. The government, including regional administrations, must reach out," Yudhoyono said.
He also reminded event participants that "debottlenecking" was the central government's top priority to smoothen procedures, open businesses and invest in regions.