Crowded With Sritex Social Assistance Bags, Gibran: If You Want Bigger Projects, Like PLN, Pertamina, Toll Roads

Gibran Rakabuming (Instagram / @ gibran_rakabuming)

JAKARTA - The eldest son of President Joko Widodo, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, denied recommending the name PT Sri Rejeki Isman Tbk or Sritex to make a social assistance bag or goodie bag used by the Ministry of Social Affairs.

"That's not true. I never recommended, ordered altau to interfere in this social assistance affair. Especially recommending a goodie bag, it's never been like that. That's not true news," said Gibran in Solo to the media crew, Monday, December 21.

Gibran suggested that it should be asked directly to the KPK. So that the information is clear. "Just cross-check it with the KPK, cross-check it with Sritex. It seems that Sritex has issued a statement. So those are news that are untrue and cannot be proven," said Gibran.

Gibran also felt strange about the circulating information. Moreover, said Gibran, the value of the project associated with him was very small. As the president's son, if he wants to do that then he will choose a big project. However, Gibran did not want to do that since his father served as president.

"If you want corruption, why is the corruption only now, corruption was not in the past. No, I've never been like that. If you want a project that's a bigger project, PLN, Pertamina, toll roads are worth trillions. I've never been like that. Moreover, interfering like that, "he said.

As is known, the social assistance project received the spotlight after the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) appointed Social Minister Juliari Peter Batubara and four other suspects as recipients and givers of bribes related to the social assistance program for handling COVID-19.

The KPK suspects Juliari to receive Rp10 thousand from each food package worth Rp.300 thousand per package. In total, the KPK suspects Juliari Batubara to have received Rp8.2 billion and Rp.8.8 billion.

As recipients, Juliari, Adi and Matheus were charged with Article 12 letter a or Article 12 letter b or Article 11 of Law Number 31 of 1999 as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001 concerning Eradication of Corruption in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph ( 1) 1st KUHP.

Meanwhile, as givers, Ardian and Harry were suspected of violating Article 5 paragraph (1) letter a or Article 5 paragraph (1) letter b or Article 13 of Law Number 31 Year 1999 as amended by Law Number 20 Year 2001 regarding Corruption Eradication.