Bangka Belitung Governor Implements Budget Efficiency Policy Affecting Civil Servant Travel

Governor of Bangka Belitung Hidayat Arsani has implemented a budget efficiency policy that controls official travel for civil servants, including contract-based government employees (PPPK) and part-time contract employees (P3K PW). The policy aims to ensure prudent, equitable, and targeted use of regional budget allocations as the province faces significant budget cuts compared to the previous year. All official travel, regardless of the rank of the official—from echelon II to IV and staff level—must receive prior approval from the governor's office. Hidayat Arsani stressed that travel should only be approved for pressing needs that deliver tangible benefits to the public, preventing unnecessary trips such as delivering documents that could be sent through courier services instead. Despite the travel restrictions, the governor emphasized that the efficiency measures have had positive outcomes, enabling the regional government to continue paying employee entitlements including salaries for PPPK and P3K PW workers, as well as the 13th month bonus for all civil servants. The governor highlighted that civil servants play a strategic role in determining the quality of public services and the success of regional development, making prudent budget management essential to sustaining their compensation and public service delivery.