Minister Of PMK Says Government Has Not Swallowed Losses From President's Bansos Rice Buried In Depok

Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (PMK) Muhadjir Effendy. (Kemko PMK)

JAKARTA - Minister of Human Development and Culture (PMK) Muhadjir Effendy admitted that there were no material losses suffered by the government from the case of hoarding of rice for social assistance (bansos) found in the JNE parking lot, Kampung Serab, Tirtajaya Village, Sukmajaya District, Depok City, West Java.

"We're not dealing with how much the loss is because we don't lose. It's borne by JNE, by the transporter because the damage when transported, was actually good at first. So he was already in the agreement, so the government won't lose," said Muhadjir at the Vice President's Palace. Jakarta, Wednesday.

On July 30, 2022, it was found that the president's social assistance rice for residents affected by COVID-19 in Sukmajaya had been buried. The total weight of the buried president's social assistance is 3,675 kilograms or 289 sacks, or equivalent to 139 beneficiary families (KPM).

"Whether it's piled up, whether it's thrown away, whether it's used to eat animals, that's his (JNE) business, it's his property, not the government's stuff. For the government, he has been replaced and has been handed over to KPM in accordance with the agreement," added Muhadjir.

According to Muhadjir, the buried presidential social assistance rice belongs to JNE as the party distributing the presidential ban.

"Once again, I'm holding on to JNE's statement, you know, but if the findings are different, that's another problem, so it's currently under investigation," said Muhadjir.

Muhadjir said that when the rice distribution was in the peak of the rainy season, JNE used an open pickup as a transport vehicle.

"Well, it's the open tubs that are mostly damaged and rotten, and at that time we really made the safest decision, basically if one truck gets rained on, then it can't be shared all of them because for example 2 days it hasn't been rotten, no one guarantees after it's not rotten, right? Rice is very sensitive to water," said Muhadjir.

However, Muhadjir ensured that the rice from the replacement president had reached the Beneficiary Families (KPM).

"If there is someone who doesn't get it, let alone 160 thousand KPM, even a thousand who don't get it will scream, right? So far there's been no news that someone didn't get rice, right?" said Muhadjir.