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Jokowi mulls disbanding 'never-heard-of' state agencies

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Jakarta Globe - July 15, 2020

Lenny Tristia Tambun, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo plans to disband or streamline the organizational structure of ineffective state agencies many people might never hear of their existence, a close aide said on Tuesday.

The plan is part of government's cost-saving measures as the country is coping with the severe economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, Presidential Staff Office (KSP) Head Moeldoko told reporters in Jakarta.

"For instance, the National Commission for the Elderly. You have never heard of it, have you?" the retired general said.

He didn't use the word "disband", saying instead the commission's function and tasks would likely be transferred to a related ministry.

The commission was founded in June 2004 with a presidential decree during the final year of the Megawati Soekarnoputri presidency.

Moeldoko continued with the list of unfamiliar offices funded by taxpayers' money, including the National Agency for Accreditation of Sports (BSANK) and the Peatland Restoration Agency (BRG).

Peatlands have been partly blamed for prolonged forest fires that have occurred almost every year in the country, but Moeldoko said the country has the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) to deal with the issue.

"Regarding BRG's role to convert peatlands to agricultural uses, this also overlaps the role of the Agriculture Ministry," he added.

"The key consideration is whether the organization's role can be handled by a ministry which similarly runs the task," Moeldoko said.

Source: https://jakartaglobe.id/news/jokowi-mulls-disbanding-neverheardof-state-agencies

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