KSP: IDR 90.45 Billion Budget Not All For Influencers

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JAKARTA - Main Expert Staff of the Presidential Staff Office, Donny Gahral Adian, stated that the Rp90.45 billion budget was not entirely used to pay for influencers, as stated by Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW).

"So, Rp. 90.45 billion is a public relations budget. Public relations has a lot of allocation, for example for public service advertisements, for advertising in print, audio-visual, socialization, making books, or others, so it's not all for influencers," Donny said. Jakarta, reported by Antara, Friday, August 21.

On Thursday, August 20, ICW researcher Egi Primayogha at the press conference "PR Regime: How Much is the Influencer Budget Billion?" online stated, the central government budgeted IDR 90.45 billion for various activities involving influencers.

The findings are based on a search of the government procurement services Electronic Procurement Service (LPSE) page from 14 to 18 August 2020.

"It is impossible for Rp. 90 billion to be given to influencers, how much influencers are they? So, influencers are chosen people who are competent, have the ability, master the substance. So, if we socialize the right policies, what's the harm? Unless they distort the facts, make good what is wrong not good, just make up something bad, after all, they talk as is, "said Donny.

According to Donny, President Jokowi, who previously invited a number of influencers to the Palace, only intended to say hello.

"I think Pak Jokowi just wants to greet all stakeholders, including influencers, because those who have mass, have followers, have listeners. What they say must be heard by many people so they are called so they can avoid hoaxes, slander, character assassination, to using social media positively, "Donny added.

Donny denied ICW's statement that President Joko Widodo did not have confidence in his programs because he used influencer services.

"Because the name of the program must be understood to remote areas, even to villages that are not reached by the media. Well, influencers, we know that we use social media that is used by the community, so I don't think it is insecure, but its reach is wider, especially in millennial circles, "said Donny.

Previously, according to Egi Primayogha, the government budget for activities involving influencers began to appear in 2017.

As for the details, in 2017 there were 5 procurement packages worth IDR 17.68 billion, in 2018 there were 15 packages valued at IDR 56.55 billion, in 2019 there were 13 packages worth IDR 6.67 billion, and in 2020 there were 7 packages worth IDR 9.53. billion.

Of the budget, the ministry that used the most influencers was the Ministry of Tourism with 22 procurement packages worth IDR 77.66 billion, followed by the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology with 4 procurement packages worth IDR 10.83 billion, then the Ministry of Education and Culture with 12 procurement packages worth IDR. 6 billion, the Ministry of Transportation (1 package) worth IDR 195.8 million, and the Ministry of Youth and Sports (1 package) worth IDR 150 million.

Egi gave an example that the Ministry of Education and Culture carried out the 2019 New Student Admissions (PPDB) socialization with the services of influencer artists Gritte Agatha and Ayushita Widyartoeti Nugraha with a budget value of Rp. 114.4 million.

In addition, for the same budget line, the Ministry of Education and Culture spent Rp. 114.4 million for influencers Ahmad Jalaluddin Rumi and Ali Syakieb.

Another example is the Ministry of Tourism disbursing IDR 5 billion for publication through international online influencer trip package IV.

Based on these findings, ICW assesses that President Jokowi's government is not confident in its programs so that it has to spend a budget for influencers.