TKN Expert Council Prabowo Gibran Denies Pangkas Fuel Subsidy For Free Lunch Program

Prabowo Subianto and Gibran Rakabuming Raka. (Photo: Doc. ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Member of the Expert Council of the National Campaign Team (TKN) Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Drajat Wibowo opened his voice regarding the rise of news which stated that Prabowo CS would cut fuel subsidies for the free lunch program initiated by the President-Cawapres number 02.

Drajat firmly denied the news, he said he had contacted the Deputy Chairperson of the Prabowo-Gibran Campaign Team Eddy Soeparno to confirm the truth of Eddy's statement.

"I have confirmed to Mas Eddy, the person concerned has never said that Prabowo-Gibran will cut the fuel subsidy. Moreover, to finance the free lunch program," he said when contacted by VOI, Friday, February 16.

He said that Eddy was the head of Commission VII of the DPR RI so that Eddy knew exactly where the source of increasing subsidy efficiency was without having to reduce fuel subsidies.

"As a member of the Expert Council of TKN Prabowo-Gibran, I ensure that the financing of the free lunch and milk program is not from the cut of the existing APBN post," continued Drajat.

He emphasized that this program will be financed from new sources of revenue or financing. which is the right of the state that has not been collected so far.

"This without increasing tax rates, except those announced by the government some time ago," explained Drajat.

Drajat said, his party has several relatively small resources, one of which is funds from cases that have permanent legal force (inkracht).

The potential for state revenue is around Rp90 trillion, more than these unpaid funds.

"Second, the amendments to one regulation can release Rp116.4 Ttriliun. This is a mid-2023 calculation. Now it is likely that it is greater and there are still at least 3 other sources whose potential is greater, but it cannot be disclosed yet," concluded Drajat.

Previously, Deputy Chairperson of the Prabowo-Gibran National Campaign Team (TKN), Eddy Soeparno, said that his party would evaluate energy subsidies.

According to him, Prabowo is currently trying to consolidate power to advance his policy.

"The Prabowo administration can adjust the energy subsidy for the next two to three months after starting office in October," said Eddy, quoted from Bloomberg, Friday, February 16.