Middle-Leaders Surveyed By Political Indicators Want Subsidy To Prices Instead Of Cash Assistance

The delivery of direct cash assistance (BLT) for fuel oil (BBM) at the Sentani Branch Post Office, Jayapura Regency, 31 August 2022 (Photo: BPMI Setpres/Laily Rachev)

JAKARTA - Political indicators conducted a national survey on the Increase in fuel prices for the Transfer of the President's Fuel Subsidy and Approval Rating. As a result, as many as 52.2 percent of the public agreed that subsidized fuel oil (BBM) was subsidized only for public and two-wheeled vehicles.

Executive Director of Political Indicators Burhanuddin Muhtadi in his online presentation said that the number of respondents who refused subsidized fuel only for public transportation and two-wheeled was also quite large, which was around 44.2 percent.

"Those who agree this statement are 52 percent majority, but they are not very high, those who don't agree are quite large," said Burhanuddin in his statement, Monday, September 19.

Burhanuddin explained that 44.2 percent of those who refused were among the middle class who had four-wheeled vehicles.

"That includes not agreeing, even though those who don't agree have lower resistance than not agreeing to limit fuel subsidies for four-wheeled vehicles," he said.

Meanwhile, the findings of other public surveys that rejected the increase in fuel prices were those using Pertalite type fuel, Bio Solar, Pertamax, Pertamax Turbo. However, the majority of Pertalite users rejected the increase in fuel prices.

"The majority of Pertalite users, Bio Solar, Pertamax, Pertamax Turbo don't agree with fuel, but if Pertalite users see it, Pertalite will increasingly disagree with the increase in fuel," he said.

Burhanuddin further said that the public would also agree if the fuel subsidy was given in the form of price subsidies compared to direct subsidies in cash to the recipient community group.

The fuel subsidy in this price form is considered to make fuel prices cheaper. Although, the survey found that more people acknowledged that fuel subsidies were not on target.

"Most people want fuel price subsidies, namely the middle class, to form a price subsidy, because they can enjoy cash directly, only the lower middle class enjoys it," said Burhanuddin.

The national survey was conducted in the range of 5-10 September 2022. The number of samples of 1,215 respondents was selected through the random digit method (RDD) or the technique of randomly selecting sample phone numbers.

The survey margin of error is estimated at 2.9 percent at a 95 percent confidence level with interviews with respondents being conducted by telephone by trained interviewers.