Muhadjir Affirms That The Government's Social Assistance Has Nothing To Do With The 2024 Presidential Election

Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (Menko PMK) Muhadjir Effendy. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (Menko PMK) Muhadjir Effendy said the distribution of social assistance (bansos) in a series of three months has nothing to do with the 2024 Presidential Election (Pilpres).

"So, social assistance has nothing to do with the presidential election or what it is," Muhadjir said in his statement in Jakarta, quoted from Antara, Saturday, February 3. Muhadjir's statement was delivered on the sidelines of a review of the distribution of food aid in Berau Regency, East Kalimantan, a few days ago.

The Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture said that the collective distribution of three months had been carried out a long time ago. Thus, the assumption of distributing social assistance because it was alleged that there was an interest in the 2024 General Election was not true. "Yes, there have always been types of social assistance that have been divided collectively for three months at the same time, including the Smart Indonesia Card, which is also three months," he said. In addition, the distribution of rice monthly for remote or remote areas is not possible. This condition will make the cost of shipping high, so many have asked to be distributed concurrently.

"For remote sub-districts where the population is looking, right, the cost is high if PT Pos has to divide it every month. So there were many who suggested that three months at once," said Muhadjir. An economist from The Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (INDEF) Rusli Abdullah stated that social assistance (bansos) at the beginning of the year was needed by lower class people who were facing rising food prices due to the El Nino phenomenon.

"Di luar agenda politik, tentunya penyaluran bansos membantu konsumsi masyarakat di tengah beberapa harga yang naik akibat dampak cuaca," kata Rusli.Ia menyampaikan bahwa pada awal tahun para petani juga mulai menanam karena wilayah Indonesia mulai memasuki musim hujan setelah menghadapi kekeringan akibat El Nino.Pada masa tanam, ia melanjutkan, para petani kecil membutuhkan bantuan sosial tunai untuk memenuhi kebutuhan sehari-hari dan kebutuhan usaha pertanian.