3 Kg LPG Gas Subsidy Will Be Revoked, PKS: Why Are Small People Really Nice, Let The Government Rethink Paying Debts

Illustration/Photo: Antara

JAKARTA - The Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) criticized the government's plan to revoke the 3-kilogram LPG gas subsidy. By reason of having a debt burden, the government has confirmed that it will cost Rp. 280 trillion when it provides subsidies.

Chairman of the PKS faction of the DPR RI, Jazuli Juwaini, assessed that the government should think again about removing the 3 kg LPG gas subsidy which is the main need of the Indonesian people. said Jazuli to reporters, Friday, April 29.

"Why don't you think, come on, those who have big responsibilities, it is prioritized to fulfill their responsibilities, so that the burden of the small community is lightened," he continued. Jazuli then highlighted the increasing amount of government debt. The latest IMF data recorded that Indonesia's debt had reached IDR 7,052 trillion. Not to mention, the government's debt to SOEs which has not been resolved until now. According to the PKS legislator for the Banten Dapil, the government does not have creativity in managing state finances. So it only relies on debt for development and even all affairs. "We hope that the country has creativity, not all matters relying on debt, if all rely on debt, everyone can also build a road (by) borrowing, buying this is debt, who can't, "said Jazuli.

Jazuli regretted that the government did not want to rack its brains to find a way to meet the country's needs. If you continue to owe, he added, the government will burden the Indonesian people even before they are born.

"Now there are 7 thousand (trillion) debts, this will burden the people, even people who have not been born yet have debts, even not yet (people) also in their mother's fetus have debts, maybe, that's what we really care about," he concluded. .

It is known, starting this year the government has planned to change the subsidy distribution system through 3 kg LPG gas. Actually, 3 kg LPG gas is a subsidized item only for the poor.

However, because of the open distribution system, everyone can easily buy 3 kg LPG gas. In fact, there are many groups of people who can afford it, middle to upper economic group who use 3 kg LPG gas.

The government will start reforming the 3 kg LPG gas energy subsidy from commodity-based to people-based in 2022. This people-based subsidy is carried out to improve the quality of state spending.

Head of the Fiscal Policy Agency (BKF) of the Ministry of Finance, Febrio Kacaribu, said the subsidy would be more targeted and accepted by the poorest 40 percent of the population.

"We know that state spending must be of higher quality. Reforms will be carried out in stages and we will start in 2022 continuing the reforms that we have been carrying out so far," said Febrio at a media briefing in Jakarta, Friday, October 1, 2021.