Conglomerate Chairul Tanjung, Hartono Brothers From Djarum, And Prajogo Pangestu Are Asked To Help Community Economy During Emergency Community Activity Restrictions

Chairul Tanjung conglomerate. (Photo: Doc. Forbes)

JAKARTA - Chairman of the Regional Representative Council (DPD RI) LaNyalla Mahmud Mattalitti invites conglomerates in Indonesia to help the economy of people who are experiencing difficulties due to Emergency Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM).

"The implementation of the Emergency PPKM has resulted in contradictions in the community, a situation that has made social inequality wider", LaNyalla said in a statement quoted by Antara, Thursday, July 15.

The senator from East Java said that currently many poor people lack food. Meanwhile, the emergency PPKM cash social assistance they had hoped for had not yet been disbursed.

"The controversial thing that then happened during the pandemic was the increasing number of rich people in Indonesia, such as investment businessmen", said LaNyalla.

The statement refers to data released by Forbes, Credit Suisse, and the Financial Times, that the number of rich people in various countries including Indonesia has increased.

According to LaNyalla, the number of Indonesians who have a wealth of more than USD 1 million or approximately IDR 14.49 billion is 172.000 people. That number increased by 62.3 percent compared to the previous year.

Meanwhile, the number of Indonesians with assets of more than USD 100 million in 2020 reached 417 people, an increase of 22.29 percent from 2019.

This amount of wealth jumped significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic to reach more than 50 percent, such as bosses Djarum Budi Hartono and Michael Hartono, Prajogo Pangestu, Sri Prakash Lohia, and Chairul Tanjung.

"This condition is inversely proportional to the screams of the poor who have difficulty finding food during the pandemic, including the Emergency PPKM period. Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) data shows that since September 2020 the poor have reached 27.55 million people, an increase of 1.12 million", explained LaNyalla.

He further asked the government to invite the rich to contribute materially to solve economic problems.

"This is the time for the participation of some groups who are able to provide help and support those who are struggling to cover basic needs in the midst of a pandemic", said LaNyalla.