Bulog Boss Calls Social Assistance Rice Potentially Misappropriated

President Director of Perum Bulog Budi Waseso (Photo: Doc. VOI)

JAKARTA - President Director of Perum Bulog Budi Waseso revealed that there is the potential for misappropriation of 10 kilograms of rice social assistance (bansos). He said, this abuse can also be done in various forms.

For your information, Perum Bulog is conducting food operations through Food Price Supply Stability (SPHP) as well as distributing food aid to 21 million beneficiary families (KPM) in the form of 10 kg rice per KK.

Currently, the distribution of social assistance is in the second phase, which takes effect from September, October, and November this year. The total rice distributed by Bulog from this program reaches 640,000 tons.

"We have food assistance from the government to 21.3 million KPM. This can also be misused, but the misuse is various things," he said at the Bulog office, Jakarta, Wednesday, October 18.

Even so, the man who is familiarly called Buwas said he was optimistic that the National Police Food Unit (Satgas) could work optimally and was able to prevent the crime from occurring.

"There is supervision, including the Food Task Force," he said.

Previously reported, the President Director of Perum Bulog Budi Waseso revealed tricks or how the rice mafia played. He said these mafias used the distribution of premium rice in bulk by Perum Bulog. The rice is then resold.

Buwas, Budi Waseso's nickname, explained that the mafia bought premium rice from Bulog at a price of Rp. 8,300 per kilogram (kg). Then the rice was resold at a price of Rp. 12,000 to Rp. 13,000 per kg by spinning the packaging.

"The rice trains distributed by Bulog are premium rice, which happened yesterday we distributed it with bulk to accelerate the distribution of rice to the public. It turns out that it is used for trading to make profits," he said at the Bulog office, Jakarta, Wednesday, October 18.

Buwas said, this practice clearly caused losses. For example, the government has difficulty suppressing rice prices and rising inflation.

"Obviously there are many negative impacts. On the other hand, the first is that we reduce prices and the second inflation can't continue to increase," he said.