The Minister Of Energy And Mineral Resources Supports The Use Of DTKS For Targeted Energy Subsidies

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Arifin Tasrif. (Photo: Doc. ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Arifin Tasrif admitted that he strongly supports the distribution of targeted energy subsidy programs using the Integrated Social Welfare Data (DTKS).

According to him, DTKS can be used to purchase fuel and distribute direct cash assistance (BLT).

"With this data, the target can be implemented and then this direct assistance can be allocated more precisely," he said in a working meeting with Commission VII DPR RI in Jakarta, Wednesday.

Arifin said the use of DTKS requires coordination with related agencies.

In addition to the use of DTKS, the government is also rolling out restrictive programs ranging from regulations that are being discussed to digitizing gas stations in collaboration with the National Police Traffic Corps to obtain vehicle data.

"Usually in vehicle BPKB, STNK, there are several liters of CC and the volume capacity that has been modified so far, which was only 60 liters modified to 100 liters, some are up to 400 liters. Most of them are not transporting commodities but transporting fuel that goes wrong," said Arifin.

Arifin hopes that the police raids can be intensified again starting from the second semester until the end of this year, so that cases of hoarding subsidized fuel can be revealed and the perpetrators receive legal punishment.

"This is a stage that is currently in our study," he added.

So far, the government is still reviewing the rising subsidized fuel prices and their impact on inflation, thus requiring coordination with other relevant ministries.

On the same occasion, member of Commission VII DPR RI Mukhtarudin proposed to the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources to form a task force (task) to supervise the distribution of subsidized fuel to make it more targeted.

According to him, the government does not have a supervisory task force because it delegates tasks to BPH Migas.

Meanwhile, BPH Migas has limited capabilities and a grassroots network that is not very strong.

Member of the House of Representatives from the PDIP Party faction Willy Midel suggested the government to cooperate with the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) to enact a fatwa on the purchase of subsidized fuel.

"In my opinion, I met several MUI leaders, after seeing the supervision that was prone to collapse, how about making a fatwa. So it's true that it is directed to people who can't afford it," said Willy.