DPD Chair Asks Regional Heads To Seriously Report Allegations Of Social Assistance Mafia

SURABAYA - The chairman of the Regional Representative Council of the Republic of Indonesia (DPD RI), AA LaNyalla Mahmud Mattalitti, asked all regional heads to give a serious response to residents' reports regarding the alleged social assistance mafia.

La Nyalla said that in Surabaya, reports were found from people who received Non-Cash Food Assistance (BPNT) who were apparently required to buy goods at certain shops or stalls. If these obligations are not followed, the recipient of the assistance is threatened with being removed from the list of beneficiaries.

"I really regret that. Because, in the midst of community difficulties, there are still people who behave greedily. Poor people who receive aid should not be used as objects to make profits. These people must be dealt with firmly," said La Nyalla, as reported by Antara. , Sunday, March 6th.

Fortunately, continued La Nyalla, the case was later successfully dismantled by the Mayor of Surabaya, Eri Cahyadi. "That's why I ask for this social assistance mafia case to be investigated further. It could be that there are still links with mafias in other areas. Regional heads in other places must also pay attention to this mode," said La Nyalla.

The former chairman of the East Java Chamber of Commerce and Industry highlighted the mafia's modus operandi, which is to oblige beneficiaries to buy basic necessities using a packaged system at designated stalls. La Nyalla emphasized this could disrupt the government's economic recovery program.

"Because the recipients of the social assistance should spend their money in any stall, so that transactions occur and ultimately move the economy in the area. If you have to go to one place, it means that the economic movement is only controlled by this mafia group. So it is very dangerous," said La Nyalla.

Therefore, La Nyalla continued, people who find this kind of dishonest practice in the field should not hesitate to report it to the authorities. "Once again, I ask the regional heads to follow up on their citizens' reports and involve the authorities," said La Nyalla.