Vice Chair Explains BPK’s Role in Handling COVID-19 Pandemic Crisis
PALEMBANG, BPK Public Relations – BPK Vice Chair Hendra Susanto delivers a keynote speech at the 8th Sriwijaya Economics, Accounting and Business Conference (SEABC) 2023 in Palembang, South Sumatera, Thursday.
Organized by the Faculty of Economics, Sriwijaya University, the conference invites all professors, researchers, students and practitioners from academic field, industry and government to share ideas and insights to formulate the best solutions to restore the world economy after the COVID-19 pandemic crisis.
Through participants’ contributions, the conference is expected to provide a deeper understanding on the current economic and business problems, especially regarding recovery, digitalization and sustainability after the COVID-19 pandemic.
In line with the theme of the conference, namely "Business and Economics Post Pandemic: Recovery, Digitalization and Sustainability", the Vice Chair explains the role of BPK in handling the COVID-19 pandemic according to its duties and functions.
Vice Chair says that the Indonesian government responds quickly to the crisis by issuing Law Number 2 of 2020 concerning State Financial Policy and Financial System Stability for Handling the COVID-19 Pandemic.
"Likewise, BPK also responded quickly by carrying out three important roles, namely oversight, insight and foresight," the Vice Chair said.
He says that learning from past crises, which always left legal problems, what BPK did at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic is to provide insight into the state financial management in handling and mitigating pandemic risks, so as to provide input to the government as an early warning system.
"BPK then plays its oversight role by implementing a comprehensive risk-based audit approach. The aim of this audit is to assess effectiveness, transparency, accountability and compliance of the use of state finances in handling the COVID-19 pandemic," he said.
As it cannot be assured how the pandemic will evolve, as also coupled with technological disruption, the Vice Chair says, it has brought Indonesia into an era of volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity (VUCA). In this situation, BPK prepares a strategic foresight entitled "Indonesia Remade by COVID-19: Scenarios, Opportunities and Challenges Towards a Resilient Government".
"In this strategic foresight, BPK uses scenario planning to develop four possible future scenarios, based on two fundamental uncertainties, namely the government's response in dealing with the crisis and the severity of the pandemic," he explained.
"In each scenario, BPK identifies opportunities, challenges and risks related to health, economic, financial, social, political, educational, environmental and technological aspects, to be taken into consideration by decision makers in preparing policies for the best scenario," he added.
The conference also presents other speakers, including Marcus Marktanner from Kennesaw State University, USA, Irwan Trinugroho from Sebelas Maret University, Siong Hook Law from Putra Malay University, Malaysia, Eko Ganis Sukoharsono and Budy Resosudarmo from Australian National University.
Director General of Planning, Evaluation and Policy of the State Financial Audit, B. Dwita Pradana, Regional Secretary of South Sumatera Province, S.A. Supriono, Head of BPK Regional Office in South Sumatera Province, Andri Yogama, Rector of Sriwijaya University, Taufik Marwa, and Dean of the Faculty of Economics, Sriwijaya University, Mohamad Adam, are present at the conference.