Ministry Of Social Affairs Asked To Explain President's Social Assistance Is Buried In Depok Land, PKB: Don't Let It Be 'Fried Food'

JAKARTA - Member of the House of Representatives Commission VIII from the PKB faction, Luqman Hakim, asked the government, in this case the Ministry of Social Affairs, to explain the findings of President Jokowi's social assistance (bansos) buried underground in an empty land in Depok, West Java.

This is because, according to Luqman, currently only JNE has clarified the origin of the aid in the form of rice which was found not far from the warehouse of the delivery service provider.

"It must be explained clearly, not only by JNE, but also by the government," said Luqman Hakim, Tuesday, August 2.

According to the PKB legislator for the Central Java electoral district, if the Ministry of Social Affairs allows this problem to drag on, it is feared that the findings will become a tool for political propaganda by certain parties.

"Don't let this problem become fried material for irresponsible parties, and in the end it will harm the government and the people," said Luqman. Meanwhile, Deputy for Coordination for Social Welfare Improvement of the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture Andie Megantara, explained that the President's social assistance rice buried in Depok was not suitable for consumption because it was damaged during distribution to Beneficiary Families (KPM).

"It is true that the Banpres 2020 rice was in an unfit for consumption when it was stockpiled because the rice was damaged on the way to distribution to KPM," Andie said in his statement, Tuesday, August 2.

According to him, the rice found may have come from the distribution of the Presidential Social Assistance Phase 2 and 4 of 2020. It is known that in 2020 the Government distributed Presidential Assistance in the form of 25 kilograms of rice in stages 2 and 4 for 1.9 million KPM in the Jabotabek area.

Andie said, the rice was allegedly distributed by Bulog through the JNE transporter in 20 kilograms and 5 kilograms packages. "It was obtained information that the amount of rice is estimated to be approximately 1 ton, which at the time of stockpiling was not suitable for consumption because the rice was damaged on the way to KPM," he said.

However, Andie said, the damaged rice did not interfere with the distribution process. He ensured that all KPMs had received rice of decent quality on time.

Andie added that JNE had also replaced the damaged rice with new rice of the same quality to be distributed to KPM. Meanwhile, rice that is not suitable for distribution is stockpiled or buried.

Andie emphasized that the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture will continue to oversee this case until it is complete and a bright spot is found.

"Until now, the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture still continues to clarify between the Depok Metro Police and the Ministry of Social Affairs and JNE," he said.