Do Not Accept Risma's Words, Deputy Mayor Of Central Jakarta: Don't Blame My Men

Residents show cash social assistance money or BST after taking it at a Bank DKI ATM, Jakarta, Tuesday (20/7/2021). BETWEEN PHOTOS/Rivan Awal Lingga/foc.

JAKARTA - Deputy Mayor of Central Jakarta, Irwandi, said that the distribution of social assistance that was not right on target was entirely the responsibility of the Indonesian Ministry of Social Affairs, not the City and Regional Governments.

"It's his fault, he's the one looking for (the recipient of the social assistance). We're not the ones looking for it," Irwandi told reporters, Friday, November 19.

Even Irwandi does not accept that the local government and the city government are blamed for the problematic distribution of social assistance.

"Don't blame my men," said Irwandi.

However, Irwandi will still check with the Central Jakarta City Government Social Service Sub-dept. to check the truth of Risma's statement.

"I checked that there were no ASNs who received them, maybe pensioners. If they are retired school guards, that's also ASN," he said.

Irwandi asked the Minister of Social Affairs not to mention that there were ASNs who received social assistance.

"Don't just mention it. There's no political element to it," he said.

Irwandi also suggested that in the future the Ministry of Social Affairs could first coordinate with regional officials so that the distribution of social assistance is more targeted.

Data on social assistance recipients from the central government comes from the Integrated Social Welfare Data (DTKS) compiled by the Ministry of Social Affairs.

He was also surprised that now the Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini actually seemed to blame the local government when it was discovered that there were recipients of social assistance who were not on target.

Risma previously said that there were 31,624 ASN suspected of receiving the Family Hope Program (PKH) and Non-Cash Food Assistance (BPNT) social assistance. Risma also said that one ASN who lives in the Menteng area, Central Jakarta, also received the social assistance.