Indonesian President Clarifies Approval of Social Assistance Distribution by House of Representatives
Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has affirmed that the House of Representatives (DPR) has officially approved the government’s utilization of a portion of the State Budget (APBN) for the distribution of social assistance in the current year. This statement comes in response to concerns and speculations regarding the government’s intention to employ social aid for political purposes in the upcoming 2024 presidential election.
President Jokowi addressed the issue at the conclusion of Nahdlatul Ulama’s youth wing congress in Jakarta on Friday, emphasizing that the approval process involves the DPR’s established mechanism and is not a unilateral decision by the government. He asserted, “I would like to reiterate that everything has been approved by the DPR through its mechanism. It is not the government’s one-sided decision. That is not how our country works.”
The government’s plan, announced on January 29, includes the distribution of direct cash assistance amounting to Rp200 thousand (approximately US$12) per person for a total of 18.8 million individuals classified as economically disadvantaged across the nation. Initially intended to be distributed monthly from January to March, the government adjusted its strategy to provide simultaneous aid in February, coinciding with the 2024 General Elections.
President Jokowi clarified that this adjustment was made in response to global increases in rice prices, aiming to bolster the purchasing power of the people. He highlighted that since September 2023, the government has been actively distributing social aid in the form of both rice and cash to address the impacts of the El Nino-induced prolonged dry season.
Finance Minister Sri Mulyani, on January 30, disclosed that the allocated budget for social aid this year amounts to Rp496 trillion (US$31.6 billion), indicating a Rp20 trillion (US$1.2 billion) increase compared to the 2023 budget. Minister Mulyani underscored that the government and the DPR engaged in extensive discussions regarding the allocated budget, considering it as a comprehensive instrument for the entire country.
The transparency and collaboration between the government and the DPR in this matter aim to assure the public that social assistance is a collective effort to address economic challenges and uphold the well-being of the nation’s citizens. President Jokowi reiterated the government’s commitment to following due process and upholding democratic principles in the administration of social aid.
