The Minister Of Communication And Information's Turn To Affirm El Nino's Social Assistance Is Not Related To Election Campaigns

Minister of Communication and Information Budi Arie Setiadi. (ANTARA/HO)

Minister of Communication and Information Budi Arie Setiadi emphasized that the social assistance (bansos) provided by the government to the public was not recently related to the 2024 Simultaneous General Election Campaign (Pemilu).

The assistance was given to the community because in early 2024 there was an increase in basic price needs due to the occurrence of the natural phenomenon of El-Nino.

"During this election period, of course, it is very sensitive, but what is certain is that the old social assistance program is not related to elections," Budi said in Jakarta as reported by ANTARA, Monday, February 5.

Budi Arie then emphasized that the provision of social assistance to underprivileged residents at the beginning of that year was the government's effort to protect the poor.

Through this assistance, the government hopes that social assistance recipients can buy basic necessities due to an increase in food prices.

"The issue of the world climate, El Nino makes the prices of basic necessities, rice, and so on increase sharply," he said.

Budi said that during the election campaign like today, the provision of social assistance was vulnerable to being politicized.

However, for the provision of social assistance, he once again emphasized that it is proof of the government's concern and concern for people in need.

"The government has attention, has concern, has a concern to provide assistance for El Nino's social assistance," he said.

The Minister of Communication and Information encourages the public to be careful in receiving information related to social assistance.

Minister Budi Arie gave an example of the distribution of social assistance at the Bogor Palace by the President which was claimed to have occurred during the election campaign period even though it had been implemented since Lebaran last year.

"This hoax is fake news, fake news, fake news whose time is wrong," he said.

Therefore, Minister Budi Arie asked the public to always check facts on various information circulating on the internet.

On the other hand, the Ministry of Communication and Informatics is also conducting cyber patrols to make the digital space free from negative content.

"The Ministry of Communication and Informatics will continue to cut off access or takedown on hoax content circulating on the internet," he said.