PORTALJABAR, DISTRICT. GARUT - The Regent of Garut, Rudy Gunawan, denied the media report by pelitajabar.com entitled "Fantastic, Garut Regent's Official Travel Costs Reach IDR 109,390 Billion".

Rudy Gunawan provided clarification on Friday (22/12/2023). He stated that the Garut Regional Government budget had been carried out as transparently as possible.

In fact, he invited anyone to view or check the Regional Development Information System (SIPD) and Budget Implementation Documents in each Regional Work Unit (SKPD), including the leadership budget at the Garut Regency Regional Secretariat (Setda).

"Please look at the SIPD and DPA, the budget at the SKPD or the management's official travel budget is at the Regional Secretariat. The management's official travel budget is only eight percent of the inspectorate's operational budget. Just check at the DPA," said Rudy.

In the news, it was stated that the Regent of Garut was assessed to have spent hundreds of millions or even billions of rupiah in the regional budget through SKPD within the Garut Regional Government from August to near the end of December 2023.

According to him, official travel for regents and deputy regents is only more than 1.27 billion rupiah which is used for domestic and foreign travel. In fact, he added, the leadership's official travel in Garut was considered to be in the small category in West Java.

"Just check, be careful, look for evidence, how much is the DPA for the regent's official trip," he said.

As is known, this year's official travel expenses total IDR 1,271,701,600, consisting of intra-regional official travel expenses (Rp. 1,132,376,600), ordinary official travel expenses (Rp. 732,376,600), intra-city official travel expenses (400,000,000) and Expenditures for Ordinary Official Travel-Overseas (139,325,000)

Rudy Gunawan also highlighted the policy of giving permission to ASN Garut to travel abroad at their own expense. According to him, this aims to increase international insight, especially for young ASN. He clarified that there is no official travel DPA for ASN who travel abroad at personal expense.

"I gave permission, so that Garut ASNs have international insight, especially for young ASNs. There is no DPA for their official travel," he said.

The Regent, who has visited more than 50 countries before leading for a decade, emphasized that there is no other reason for his subordinates to travel abroad, even at their own expense, other than to broaden their horizons and work enthusiasm.

"How far we are left behind and that can increase performance enthusiasm," he added.

The Regent also touched on the issue of extortion by emphasizing that during his 10 years in office, he had never extorted anyone. He also touched on the conscience of Garut's 23 thousand ASN people to answer the issue of extortion. Rudy Gunawan closed his clarification by inviting doubtful parties to carry out checks at the Indonesian BPK and through the SIPD which was launched in early December.

"Surely the conscience of the Garut ASN can answer that. It's a matter of blackmail, just ask the Garut ASN, which numbers 23 thousand people," he concluded.