Targeting Savings Of Up To IDR 750 Trillion, PSI: Prabowo's Plan That Dares To Develop Indonesia

Presiden Prabowo Subianto memberikan sambutan pembuka pada pertemuan bilateral dengan Presiden Turki Recep Tayyip Erdogan/DOK ANTARA/Livia Kristianti

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) responded to President Prabowo Subianto's statement targeting budget efficiency of up to IDR 750 trillion. PSI assessed that the target was a bold plan needed to make Indonesia progress.

The target of IDR 750 trillion is very large. Some parties doubt it, but the government must have calculated it very carefully. This is a bold plan but it is necessary for the progress of the nation. PSI supports it," said PSI DPP spokesman Furqan AMC, Saturday, February 22.

PSI believes that breakthrough steps are needed to ensure that Indonesia becomes a developed country. One of them is reallocating the budget and stopping the extravagance.

Furqan also reminded that some of these funds will be allocated for the Free Nutrition Food (MBG) program. "We understand that MBG is an important program to ensure that our children get nutritional adequacy so that they can grow up to be intelligent people," said Furqan.

The rest, said Furqan, will be submitted to Danantara to be invested in sustainable strategic projects.

"The investment, as stated by President Prabowo, could contribute to achieving Indonesia's economic growth target of 8 percent over the next five years," said Furqan.

This 98 activist assessed that the government had ensured that efficiency would only be carried out on goods and capital expenditures. For example, official travel, studies, ceremonial activities, and office stationery.

"Meanwhile, personnel spending, public services, and social assistance are not affected. The education sector is also not affected. So, for example, the issue of scholarships and Indonesia Smart Lecture Cards will be cut, not true," said Furqan.

Previously, President Prabowo Subianto said budget savings would be made up to three rounds with a total of IDR 750 trillion.

In the first round, budget savings have reached IDR 306.69 trillion. In the second round, Prabowo targets budget efficiency of up to IDR 308 trillion.

"The savings we made, which are still busy, savings in the first round by the Ministry of Finance were combed for Rp. 300 trillion, saving the second round of Rp. 308 trillion," Prabowo said in his speech at the Puncak Celebration of the 17th Anniversary of the Gerindra Party.

Then in the third round, savings will be made through State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN), where dividends targeted by SOEs reach IDR 300 trillion. Of this total, said Prabowo, Rp 200 trillion was used for the state and Rp 100 trillion was returned to BUMN.

"Dividends from BUMN Rp 300 trillion, Rp 100 trillion are returned (to BUMN), in total we have Rp 750 trillion. (US$) I have to use 24 billion to eat nutritiously, our people, our children, cannot go hungry. If there are children who are rich, eat well, that's okay," said Prabowo.

Meanwhile, the rest will be invested in Danantara. "The rest of us have (US$) 20 billion, we will hand it over to Danantara to be invested," continued the General Chair of the Gerindra Party.