Regional autonomy aims to realize fiscal independence: Indonesian Home Minister

Makassar, The Gulf Observer: Indonesian Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian emphasized that the ultimate goal of regional autonomy is to realize fiscal independence in regional governance wherein it annuls the need to rely on the central government.

“The Regional Autonomy Day commemoration must be a (time for) reflection for all regions,” Karnavian stated while opening the Regional Autonomy Day commemoration event at Losari Beach here on Saturday.

If regional authorities can exploit opportunities in their regions effectively, their regional revenues and their chance to realize fiscal independence will increase, the minister remarked.

He also challenged regional leaders to develop breakthroughs and innovations to increase regional revenues to achieve fiscal independence.

“Hence, the tagline ‘Advanced Regional Autonomy for Advanced Indonesia’ can be realized as well as realizing Indonesia as a dominating country at the regional and the international levels,” he stressed.

He affirmed that as Indonesia is endowed with cultural diversity, each region has its own characteristics, which regional authorities should take into account in their governance.

Meanwhile, the minister commended the Regional Autonomy Day commemoration concept devised by the Makassar municipal authority and lauded Mayor Mohamad Ramdhan Pomanto, popularly known as Danny Pomanto, for successfully organizing the event.

“I wish to express my gratitude, particularly to Makassar Mayor Mr Danny Pomanto. I did not expect the event will be as grand as this, but when Mr Danny is at the helm, he is always ready with surprises,” Karnavian stated.

This year’s Regional Autonomy Day commemoration is the largest to take place at an outdoor venue, he remarked.

The minister also pointed out that the event could be compared to a grand meeting between President Joko Widodo and regional leadership coordination forums and regional heads nationwide in Sentul, West Java, last January, which he considered as being the largest.

“It was one of the largest, yet it (took place) at an indoor space. The largest (event) taking place at an outdoor space is here, in Makassar,” Karnavian noted.