Energy Subsidy Budget Increases, Rieke Diah Pitaloka The Value Of Fuel Prices Should Not Increase

Illustration (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Member of Commission VI DPR RI Rieke Diah Pitaloka said the price of subsidized fuel oil (BBM) should not increase because the budget allocation in the APBN for subsidized fuel oil (BBM) has increased.

"In the midst of the statement, the increase in the APBN allocation for energy subsidies which reached Rp. 502 trillion. This means that subsidies have increased three times from the previous year, but there is a contradiction, namely that the price of subsidized fuel is actually planned to increase," Rieke said in a Working Meeting (Raker) quoted from Between, Wednesday, August 24.

According to him, when the state budget allocation for energy subsidies increases, logically the selling price to the people will not increase.

Therefore, he questioned why the selling price of BBM to the people was planned to increase even though the allocation of people's money in the state treasury for fuel subsidies was increasing.

"President Jokowi has given extraordinary political budget decisions to strengthen the economic awakening of the people, especially those who are poor and underprivileged through the location of the APBN for programs, including energy subsidies," said Rieke.

He supports President Jokowi's commitment not to increase the price of subsidized fuel because the allocation of fuel subsidies from the APBN has tripled.

Rieke said this was in response to President Jokowi's statement at the DPR Plenary Meeting, Tuesday, August 16, which stated that until mid-2022, the APBN was in surplus of Rp. 106 trillion.

Therefore, the government is able to provide subsidies for fuel, LPG, and electricity of IDR 502 trillion in 2022 so that the price of fuel in the community does not soar.

Rieke also supports President Jokowi to instruct relevant ministers to improve accurate and actual data on recipients of the #SatuDataIndonesia subsidy, including recipients of energy subsidies.

"The APBN allocation of IDR 502 trillion for fuel subsidies must be right on target for the poor and underprivileged," said Rieke Diah.

He asked the SOE Ministry to provide a written answer regarding details of crude oil from Indonesia and imports.

He also asked for details on imports of crude oil, LPG, and LNG from 2011-2022 as well as from where the data on energy subsidy recipients for 2019-2022 came from.