Answering Bansos Politization, Jokowi: Don't Think About The Government's Own Decision, The DPR Also Approved

Indonesian President Joko Widodo delivered a press statement after attending the XVI GP Ansor Congress at Tanjung Priok Port, Jakarta, Friday (2/2/2024). (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) emphasized that the social assistance budget (bansos) originating from the APBN has gone through a mechanism in the DPR, not only based on the government's decision.

Jokowi made this statement when answering the issue of social assistance politicization, which was touted as a political tool to win one of the pairs of presidential and vice presidential candidates in the 2024 presidential election.

"Those are all, once again, it has gone through an approval mechanism in the DPR. Don't think it's just our own decision, it's not like that in our state mechanism, our government is not like that," Jokowi said after attending the XVI GP Ansor Congress at Tanjung Priok Port, Jakarta, quoted by ANTARA Friday, February 2.

On January 29, the Government announced plans to distribute direct cash assistance (BLT) to 18.8 million poor people.

Initially, the BLT mitigated the risk of food worth IDR 200 thousand per month will be given to beneficiaries for 3 months, namely January to March. However, then the Government decided to distribute the aid at once in February, or in conjunction with the implementation of the 2024 General Election.

Jokowi said that the BLT distribution plan was the Government's response to the increase in rice prices in almost all countries in the world, not only in Indonesia.

"Therefore, we want to strengthen the purchasing power of the people below," said Jokowi.

The President then explained that the distribution of various social assistance such as rice food assistance and BLT El Nino to respond to the long dry season. This has also been carried out by the Government since September 2023, again with the aim of strengthening people's purchasing power.

The President also responded casually to the issue of social assistance politicization associated with the upcoming elections.

"Oh, it's been a long time ago. It's been since September," said Jokowi.

Previously, Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani said the amount of social assistance budget in the 2024 State Budget reached Rp496 trillion, or an increase of Rp20 trillion from the social assistance budget in 2023 of Rp476 trillion.

Sri Mulyani explained that the realization of the budget for social assistance will continue to be monitored and adjust the development of existing conditions.

He emphasized that social assistance is a program that has indeed been budgeted in the APBN.

"I want to emphasize to my media friends that social assistance is an instrument in the state budget. The state budget is a law. The law is discussed with all political parties, factions in the DPR, and after becoming a law he became a shared state instrument," said Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani.