"Yes, for the time being, we are stopping the program because it is very costly. We are looking for a funding source that can share the burden," Pos Indonesia president director Gilarsi said on Tuesday as quoted by kompas.com.

The program, which was announced by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo in May 2017, had initially aimed at encouraging literacy and defray the high costs of sending books to rural areas. 

Gilarsi said the company had spent over Rp 13 billion (US$877,056) on the program but could no longer cover the costs, as it exceeded the company's corporate social responsibility budget.

"So, this month I was forced to stop it because the source of funding has not been confirmed," he said, adding that he hoped the government could help find a solution to the problem.

Literacy advocate and Pustaka Bergerak founder Nirwan Arsuka, who lobbied for the program, said he was aware of the decision.  

"I think stopping the program shows that our bureaucracy is not quick enough to facilitate peoples' blazing enthusiasm to send books across the country to help Indonesian children who lack quality reading material," he told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

"Indonesian children actually have a high interest in reading, they just lack the materials."

However, he said he understood Pos Indonesia's decision given the high costs.

"I hope the government can find a solution to help overcome the high costs and widen the opportunities for people to help the government educate Indonesian children," he said. (kmt/swd)

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