Starting Today, The Ministry Of Home Affairs Will Issue A Circular On The Termination Of Social Assistance During The 2024 Pilkada

Illustration of social assistance (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Deputy Minister of Home Affairs (Wamendagri) Bima Arya Sugiarto revealed that his party will send a circular (SE) to all local governments to temporarily stop the distribution of social assistance (bansos) during the 2024 Regional Head Election (Pilkada).

According to Bima, the SE will be sent to all local governments on Wednesday, November 13. "Yes, tomorrow the circular will be circulated," said Bima at the DPR building, parliament complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Tuesday, November 12.

Bima said social assistance would be distributed again after the election vote on November 27, 2024. However, Bima said, the government will continue to distribute social assistance to disaster-affected areas such as East Flores, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).

"All of Indonesia (stopped), which except for areas that are being hit by a disaster, there was an eruption in East Flores, yes, if something else is postponed first," said Bima.

Previously, the Minister of Home Affairs (Mendagri) Tito Karnavian emphasized that his party agreed that the distribution of social assistance (bansos) should be temporarily suspended during the 2024 Pilkada. This was conveyed by Tito in a hearing with Commission II of the DPR at the DPR building, parliament complex, Senayan, Jakarta, last Tuesday.

"We agree, sir. We immediately agreed," Tito said at the meeting.

Tito admitted that his party would realize the proposal, especially since the proposal came from Commission II of the DPR. Regarding this, said Tito, his party will make a circular (SE) to the local government to prohibit the distribution of social assistance during the regional elections.

"Moreover, this ball is from Commission II, we just have to smash this hull ball, we just need to make a circular," said Tito.

It's just that, said Tito, there needs to be an exception, namely for areas that experience disasters so that social assistance is still distributed. "Except for areas that really need social assistance because there is a disaster like Lewotobi, which is now in East Flores, Sikka, more than 12,000 people who decide, yes, it is impossible for us to give their social assistance, they need that," concluded Tito.

The proposal to stop the distribution of social assistance was conveyed by a member of Commission II of the PDIP faction, Deddy Sitorus, in a hearing (RDP) of Commission II of the DPR with the Ministry of Home Affairs and acting (Pj) regional heads on Monday (11/11/2024). According to Deddy, the distribution of social assistance needs to be temporarily stopped so that the 2024 Pilkada contestation takes place honestly and fairly.

"My advice is leadership, if possible, because it is only a matter of this week our Pilkkada, if possible all social assistance from the regional government will be temporarily suspended until November 27," said Deddy at the parliament complex, Senayan.