The West Kalimantan MAUNG Regional Representative Council (DPD) Highlights Fiscal Justice: The Budget Isn’t Just About Counting Heads, It’s About National Dignity
PONTIANAK, KALBAR-JAYA NEWS COM – The NGO MAUNG West Kalimantan has strongly criticized the national fiscal policy, which it believes remains trapped solely by population figures. The organization believes that a fiscal approach that ignores geographical realities, regional isolation, and potential geopolitical threats is dangerous to the sense of justice and even the nation’s dignity.
“This country wasn’t built solely for densely populated islands. This country was built for every inch of its land. If policies only count heads, while marginalizing people in the interior, then the country has failed to fulfill its constitutional mandate and humanitarian principles,” asserted Andri Mayudi, Chairman of the DPD of the NGO MAUNG West Kalimantan, in a statement on Tuesday, July 15, 2025.
Blatant Inequality
Data shows that West Kalimantan has an area approximately 1.11 times larger than the island of Java. However, the combined provincial budget (APBD) plus 14 districts/cities is only around IDR 30 trillion. In comparison, several provinces on Java manage regional budgets of between IDR 30 and IDR 90 trillion annually.
Development costs in West Kalimantan are also significantly higher. Road construction in this region can reach IDR 7 to 8 billion per kilometer, while the average on Java is only around IDR 5 billion. Furthermore, logistics costs in West Kalimantan have ballooned by 20–30 percent due to the difficult terrain and complex geography. Border areas also lack infrastructure, leaving communities isolated and vulnerable to social problems.
“Don’t underestimate this problem,” Andri emphasized. “Mothers who give birth in downtown Pontianak or on the banks of the Kapuas Hulu River both have the right to be served by the state. The state should not judge people solely by the number of children in a region.”
A Question of Justice, a Question of Sovereignty
For the NGO MAUNG West Kalimantan, fiscal inequality is not merely a matter of regional budgets, but also concerns national sovereignty. West Kalimantan shares a direct border with Malaysia. Underdevelopment in border areas not only fuels poverty but also opens up opportunities for foreign influence, illegal trade, and irregular migration.
“National borders aren’t just guarded by wire fences or the red and white flag. Sovereignty is safeguarded by the people’s sense of justice. If the people feel neglected, trust in the state will be weakened, and that creates an opening for foreign parties,” said Andri.
Five Concrete Solutions
The NGO MAUNG West Kalimantan believes that reform of the General Allocation Fund (DAU) is an absolute demand, not just academic discourse. This reform, Andri said, must be carried out based on legal, social, philosophical, cultural, and democratic principles.
Without a more equitable reform formula—including regional weighting, accessibility index, special border funds, field audits, and transparency—the DAU will only perpetuate inequality.
The NGO MAUNG West Kalimantan proposes five concrete steps to address fiscal inequality:
1. Increase the Weighting of Area
The DAU formula must provide a minimum weighting of 10 percent for provinces with an area of more than 50,000 square kilometers.
2. Accessibility Index
Budget allocation must take into account distance, terrain conditions, and difficulties in distributing public services.
3. Special Border Fund Scheme
Special fund allocation for the development of health, education, and economic infrastructure, as well as security in border areas.
4. Regular Field Audits
The Ministry of Finance, together with Bappenas, must conduct field visits at least every two years, ensuring that fiscal needs data is based on real-world conditions.
5. Transparency and Public Participation
The fund allocation formula and field audit results must be published online so that the public can transparently monitor budget use.
The NGO MAUNG Kalbar emphasized that their struggle is not simply about the nominal budget. Rather, it is a matter of national dignity and just and civilized humanity. The state, Andri said, must not allow its citizens in remote areas to feel like second-class citizens simply because they live far from the center of government.
“A great nation is not one that merely boasts about its population. A great nation is one that honors every citizen, wherever they are. Fiscal justice is not just a number on paper, but a reflection of just and civilized humanity,” Andri concluded.
The NGO MAUNG West Kalimantan also urged the central government, the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), and all policymakers to immediately implement fiscal reforms to truly realize justice, protect sovereignty, and ensure the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia stands strong in every inch of its land—from city centers to the borders.**
Author: MAUNG NGO Team
Source: DPD LSM MAUNG West Kalimantan
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