Megawati Ever Called BLT During The Government Of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono Improved Mentally Beggars

Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Megawati Soekarnoputri shook hands when they met at the funeral of BJ Habibie in Jakarta, 12 September 2019. (BPMI Setpres)

JAKARTA - The increase in fuel prices has a central influence. Other basic ingredients are often expensive. During the reign of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY), for example. Fuel rose twice (March and October 2005). Indonesian people became victims.

Emiliki kuasa bersasak. Mereka menawarkan Bantuan langsung Tunai (BLT). Criticism pun muncul. Criticism dari mantan Presiden Indonesia Megawati Soekarnoputri salah satunya. BLT bukan solusi. Ide BLT dianggapnya seperti sarana membangun mental pengemis.

The increase in world oil prices has made the Indonesian government not move. The world oil price reaches 150 US dollars per barrel. There is no other way. The only option the government can do is increase the price of fuel. President SBY installed the body. He gave the command to increase the price of fuel in March 2005.

Premium prices are one of the types of fuel that most felt an increase from Rp1,810 to Rp2,400 per liter. The impact of the increase in fuel is significant. The price of other basic commodities also increased. This condition makes all Indonesian people live in chaos. Meanwhile, the government could not do much.

In fact, world oil prices have not dropped. Seven months later, or in October 2005, the price of fuel was increased again. Premium which was originally Rp2,400 to Rp4,500 per liter. Everything as stated by SBY, is for the benefit of the Indonesian people.

Of course, the condition of the Indonesian people is getting injured. The Indonesian government did not remain silent on the increase in fuel volume two. The owner of the power also tactics. BLT became the study. The reality is that BLT as the solution is not appropriate.

It seems impossible. To'mand' the increase in land oil prices alone, which is needed by most poor families, both for cooking and for selling fried food on the side of the road, is not enough at all. Moreover, to cover the increase in prices, other basic necessities that have stepped up ahead of the official announcement of the increase in fuel prices, it seems inadequate at all.

For poor families who receive direct cash funds, they are certainly aware that there will be no significant value of Rp100,000 per month, if they have to be spent when the prices of their basic necessities skyrocket. In these conditions, the concerns that arise are that the recipients and á of direct cash do not use the money to buy necessities, but to buy dreams during the day in broad daylight by installing a lottery," Fahmyputri in the book Pro People's Economic Policy (2008).

Criticism of the BLT system was raised by many parties. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's government is considered insensitive to the people's condition. Rp100,000 in money is considered not to provide any problems. This is because other basic needs are increasing.

Former President of Indonesia, Megawati Soekarnoputri also spoke up. He, known as the leader of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) said that BLT was not a solution. Instead of helping the community, BLT is actually considered a political commodity of the Democratic Party. No more.

BLT since its inception has been full of problems. The distribution of BLT is often not right on target. The poor who should receive assistance, actually have to bite their fingers because their parts are taken by the wealthy. Moreover, BLT is considered not a wise solution.

Megawati criticized him many times. Moreover, her party's DNA represents the voice of the child. The criticism of Soekarno's second child reached its peak in 2008. He revealed that the BLT program actually gave rise to beggars' mentality. Alias BLT degrades the dignity of the Indonesian people.

Actually, Megawati expressed criticism of the BLT program several times, but she conveyed quite sharp criticism twice. The first criticism was conveyed openly when she delivered her political speech when opening a national working meeting of PDIP cadres in Makassar on May 27, 2008. Megawati expressed her criticism of the BLT program based on the reason that the BLT program caused the mentality of beggars and this program to degrade the dignity of the Indonesian people.

"Megawati said: the distribution of BLT makes the nation more mentally begging. What if our people have such a mentality? How can we be a nation's pride. Can we become a nation if people don't use their energy to work, but beg?" Megawati said as quoted by Mulyadi Sumarto in the book Social Protection and Retailism (2018).