To add to the experience and enrichment of knowledge for students, lecturers and other academics, University of Bengkulu holds academic nuances, namely scientific oration by presenting the Minister of Finance of the Republic of Indonesia, Sri Mulyani Indrawati, SE, MS, Ph.D, in GSG building, UNIB, Friday (2/22/2019).
Sri Mulyani visited UNIB accompanied by her beloved husband, Tonny Sumartono, and several Director General and surrounding officials of the Minister of Finance of the Republic of Indonesia. She arrived at 10:00 Am and was immediately greeted by Rector of UNIB, Dr. Ridwan Nurazi, SE, M.Sc, vice rectors, deans, and leaders of UNIB, as well as thousands of students.
Ahead of the Minister of Finance presence , students who have attended GSG since 9.00 Am were exposed to economic conditions and financial management in Bengkulu Province conveyed by the Head of Bank Indonesia of Bengkulu Representative, Endang Kurnia. Also present, the Head of Regional Office (Kanwil) of the Directorate General of Treasury of Bengkulu Province, Ismed Saputra along with his parties.
This event began with singing Indonesia’s theme song, Indonesia Raya together. Then, Rector of UNIB, Dr. Ridwan Nurazi, M.Sc was invited to the podium to deliver a speech while introducing Sri Mulyani, as a phenomenal figure and the best Minister of Finance in Asia.
Rector expressed his pride and deepest gratitude to Sri Mulayani who was present for giving speeches to UNIB’s academic community while there have been no government finance ministers from previous periods who visited UNIB. “Ibu Sri Mulyani is the first finance minister to visit UNIB. Therefore, we are very proud, “he said.
Rector hopes that the activities of this scientific speech will become a forum for enriching knowledge for students, lecturers and other academics, especially regarding fiscal policy and state financial governance.
“Hopefully this activity can provide enlightenment, increase knowledge for all of us, also has a significant impact on the progress of UNIB going forward. UNIB is currently programming the establishment of an education hospital, it is hoped that Ibu Sri Mulyani can help implement this program so that the quality of education in the Faculty of Medicine will improve and UNIB can contribute significantly to the field of development and public health services, “said Ridwan Nurazi.
The scientific oration of Indonesia’s fiscal policy presented by Finance Minister, Sri Mulyani took the theme of “State Financial Management in Indonesian Economy.” However, before explaining the management of state finances, she reminded students and the younger generation in general that Indonesia was built with big ideals compiled and formulated by the founding father, contained in the Constitution of 1945.
“The great ideals of the Indonesian Nation will now be the responsibility of all of us. Students are tasked with learning and learning, so that they have the ability to develop the leadership stage of the future. So do I, we at the Ministry of Finance, are responsible for state financial policies that can be managed properly, so achieving the goal of educating the nation, maintaining economic stability, alleviating poverty, and promoting national development in various sectors, “she said.
Fiscal policy is an action taken by the government in the field of taxation and state budget, covering three functions, namely allocation, distribution and maintaining economic stability. “The fiscal instrument is ABPN (State Revenue and Expenditure Budget). In managing the APBN, there are signs for the three functions that can be implemented properly, “she said.
Sri Mulyani explained that Indonesia’s economic growth in 2018 had increased accompanied by lower inflation. “The achievement of infrastructure development is quite good, so the realization of APBN of 2018 shows healthy and credible performance,” he explained.
Regarding Bengkulu’s economy and regional financial management, Sri Mulyani said Bengkulu had Gross Regional Domestic Product (PDRB) of Rp.17.27 Trillion as around Rp.33.8 million/capacity. Seeing the economic stretch of Bengkulu Province in 2018 , the agricultural sector still contributes to the economic growth of this region.
“In the next few years, Bengkulu must reduce the lag gap. The poverty rate which is still above the national average and the ratio which is still below the national level shows that we must use all policies to improve the economy of the Bengkulu region, “she said firmly.
How is the management of Indonesia’s state finances going forward? According to Sri Mulyani, if Indonesia wants to become a developed country, ready to face the industrial revolution 4.0, the digital era where artificial intelligent can have a big influence on economic movements, we must invest heavily in HR. “Therefore, students continue to study, study and study,” he said.
At the end of her speech, Sri Mulyani gave the opportunity for students to ask questions. The discussion was guided directly by Rector of UNIB, Ridwan Nurazi. Getting the opportunity, suddenly the atmosphere became crowded because the number of students raised their hands while shouting to be given the opportunity to ask questions. This also proves that UNIB students were very enthusiastic in facing the scientific oration delivered by Sri Mulyani.
Due to the limited time, Rector allowed only three students to ask, one of them was a representative from the Student Executive Board (BEM) of UNIB.
Interestingly, Sri Mulyani did not answer student questions from the podium or the front stage. The phenomenal female figure rushed down the stage and approached the student seat who asked. Of course, besides being amazed, the students and invited guests seemed struggling to capture the moment using their cellphones. Some of them even had time to put on a selfie with Finance Minister, Sri Mulyani.
After giving an explanation on the student’s question, Sri Mulyani returned to the stage and then closed her scientific oration by expressing thanks to the academic community of UNIB who had given the opportunity and listened to the speeches she delivered. Sri Mulyani also said that she would try to help UNIB so that the university’s pride in Bengkulu society could be more advanced. “Like the establishment of UNIB hospital program, I will help,” she said. [Hms1]