Airlangga Ensures That The Provision Of Social Assistance From The Government Has Nothing To Do With Political Year

Coordinating Minister for the Economy Arilangga Hartarto (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The Coordinating Minister for the Economy who is also the General Chair of the Golkar Party Airlangga Hartarto emphasized that the distribution of government social assistance (bansos) has nothing to do with the political year. He said, the distribution of social assistance has been running since the Covid-19 pandemic. "We have divided social assistance since Covid. So social assistance is not related to the political year, because if we look at it, the community is in dire need," said Airlangga Hartarto after the consolidation event at the Bintang Maruli Multipurpose Building, Karawang, West Java, last Wednesday. According to Airlangga, the El Nino phenomenon also affected the harvest period. Therefore, to help the government community take steps by distributing social assistance. "Moreover, we are talking about El Nino, whose problem is still there until now, with the harvest will be 2 months backwards. Then in the international food commodity prices will increase. Then there is a ban on exports from India and various other countries so of course we have to take steps," said Airlangga. "One step is to continue the provision of social assistance. So whether it is in the form of rice or direct cash assistance (BLT) that is felt is very necessary," he continued. Airlangga ensures that the distribution of basic necessities will be evenly distributed to residents in need. He emphasized that the political year is not an obstacle to distributing social assistance to the beneficiary community. "So for people in need, the beneficiary family always provides basic necessities. So we don't want with the existence of political agenda, the aid is cut off," he said. In addition, Airlangga said the budget regarding social assistance remains at the Ministry of Social Affairs posts. He also denied the issue of the involvement of Social Minister Tri Rismaharini in the distribution of social assistance to the community. "If the social assistance budget is entirely in Mrs. Risma so it is not (uninvitable), the post is in the Ministry of Social Affairs. There is no change, "he explained.

Previously reported, PDIP Secretary General Hasto Kristiyanto criticized President Joko Widodo for distributing social assistance to the public. He accused President Jokowi of politicizing the distribution of social assistance. "This is a very serious misuse of social assistance politics, it actually injures the people and this is not in accordance with good state governance," said Hasto, Tuesday.