Bansos COVID-19 Corruption Juliari, Faisal Basri: I Just Say Cash Don't Believe It

Indef's senior economist, Faisal Basri. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The corruption of COVID-19 social assistance funds (Bansos) by former Minister of Social Affairs Juliari Batubara has received attention from senior economist Faisal Basri. He said from the start he did not agree with social assistance in the form of goods.

According to Faisal, ideally social assistance should be in the form of cash. The reason is, not only because they are prone to corruption, but also because the needs of each society are different.

For example, the needs of people who have a history of diabetes and those who have babies will be different. Those with diabetes should not eat much rice. Meanwhile, those who have babies tend to buy vitamins or milk.

"I have always said that social assistance is only cash. So it is unanimous for the people to get it. As beautiful as social assistance can be is cash," he said, in a virtual discussion, Tuesday, December 22.

In addition, said Faisal, the social assistance budget would be cut a lot for the bureaucracy. Starting from procuring transportation costs to goodie bags or social assistance bags.

"If it is not cash, 20 to 25 percent of the people's rights will be lost. Because of what? There is a cost of procurement of transportation costs, goodie bags and all kinds of packaging costs. Never mind, the people are given the full amount," he explained.

Faisal said he agreed that the social assistance provided by the government was in the form of rice without complementary food. According to him, this can help Bulog to manage the available rice stock.

"Except for rice, I agree. Because Bulog's stock continues to rotate. So this will facilitate Bulog management. But not for the others," he said.

As previously reported, the social assistance project came under 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 four other suspects in this case are, the official who made the commitment at the Ministry of Social Affairs (Kemensos) Matheus Joko Santoso and Adi Wahyono, as well as Ardian IM and Harry Sidabukke as private parties.

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.