Ministry Of Social Affairs Ready To Support Data To KPK In The Bansos Case For Bansos Juliari P. Batubara

Secretary General of the Ministry of Social Affairs Hartono Laras in a virtual press conference (Photo: Mery / VOI)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Social Affairs ensures that it will cooperate fully and open access to information needed by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), related to the alleged corruption case of social assistance (bansos) packages for food packages, for the handling of COVID-19 in Jabodetabek, which was carried out by the Minister of Social Affairs Juliari Batubara .

"This is a form of our seriousness and support in the efforts to eradicate corruption," said Secretary General of the Ministry of Social Affairs Hartono Laras in a virtual press conference, Sunday, December 6.

Hartono admitted that he was concerned and very devastated by having to face this fact amidst the efforts of the Ministry of Social Affairs to continue to work hard in carrying out its duties and mandates, especially in distributing social assistance in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"For the last 9 months, we and all levels have been tirelessly to ensure social assistance is distributed quickly, on target and adheres to the principle of accountability," he said.

According to Hartono, since the beginning the Ministry of Social Affairs has asked the Government Internal Supervisory Apparatus (APIP), both the Inspectorate General of the Ministry of Social Affairs and the BPKP, and law enforcement officials to provide assistance and escort in managing this social assistance budget, namely the National Police, the Attorney General's Office, including the KPK.

"This is because we manage a large budget," he said.

Furthermore, Hartono emphasized that he would continue to work hard to implement and complete programs both regular and special programs from the remaining time of the 2020 fiscal year which will end soon. As well as preparing for the implementation of the 2021 program which we must have started in January 2021.

"Currently, the total budget of the Ministry of Social Affairs is Rp. 134.008 trillion and the realization is more than 97.2 percent, as of December 6, 2020 or the highest of 85 Ministries and Institutions. This is what we continue to monitor," he explained.

Meanwhile, the total budget included in the social protection program scheme, both regular and non-regular (special), reached IDR 128.78 trillion, the realization was also more than 98 percent.