If Elected By The President, Anies Brings The BOTI Program In Jakarta To The National

Presidential Candidate Anies Baswedan/PHOTO: Diah Ayu-VOI

Presidential candidate number 1, Anies Baswedan, promised to bring the Operational Assistance program for Places of Worship (BOTI) to the national level if elected as President of the Republic of Indonesia in 2024.

The program for distributing financial assistance to places of worship is run by the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government during Anies' tenure as Governor of DKI Jakarta.

Anies conveyed this plan after attending the National Insight Seminar Mubes IX of the Indonesian Pantekost Churches Association (PGPI).

"At that time there was a BOTI program, it was given to the place of worship of all religions, then also to workers in houses of worship. Then also related to the celebration of big days where all were given equal opportunities," said Anies at GBI Mawar Saron, North Jakarta, Thursday, November 30.

For information, the BOTI program run by Anies in Jakarta, the DKI Provincial Government distributes IDR 2 million per month for large houses of worship and IDR 1 million for small places of worship.

In addition, religious workers in places of worship also receive assistance of Rp. 500 thousand per month. Houses of worship that receive assistance include mosques, prayer rooms, churches, monasteries, to temples/showers. In Jakarta, the DKI Provincial Government spends a budget of up to Rp140 billion per year to run the BOTI program.

"This is also a spirit that we will bring to the national level so that peace harmony is supported by a sense of justice," said Anies.

Anies emphasized that all citizens with various beliefs have the right to get the same protection. He claims to have maintained religious harmony while leading Jakarta for the 2017-2022 period.

"Five years in Jakarta yesterday was 5 years of shady, peaceful, and calm. It was because of extraordinary joint work. Not one person's work, so work together is extraordinary," he said.