STATE BUDGET SURPLUS SHOWS STAGNATION IN FISCAL STIMULUS

Medan, Apr 15 (ANTARA) - A surplus of Rp2.9 trillion in this year's state budget could be perceived as a stagnation in the function of fiscal stimulus, and not merely as an achievement.

"A surplus can happen as there is no spending, so that the government is in a hurry to categorize it as an achievement," Jhon Tafbu Ritonga, a North Sumatra economic observer, said here on Tuesday.
With a spending of about Rp159.7 trillion (16.2 percent), the government has collected from the people tax and non tax revenue amounting to Rp162.6 trillion, thus prompting the finance minister to see it as a surplus of Rp 2.9 trillion.
"So a surplus is actually no achievement, but a weakness of the government who can not spend on the basis of the capability of the people to pay tax and other payments," he said.
Unfortunately, the government's weaknesses gained no response from the House of Representatives whose members were busy of struggling to gain a seat.