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Cash aid transfer in limbo after Bansos controversy
Social Affairs Ministry appears to be sidelined as President and other ministers take charge of disbursing social assistance (Bansos) during run-up to election.
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An official tells residents to keep their distance while lining up for COVID-19 cash aid delivery at a post office in Padang, West Sumatra, on May 15, 2020. (Antara/Iggoy el Fitra)
T
he government has fallen silent about the plan to deliver cash aid scheduled this month amid the controversy surrounding Bansos (social assistance) that has been distributed by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and his aides ahead of the election.
Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto announced last week that the government would be handing out direct cash assistance (BLT) this month but the exact schedule was yet to be disclosed.
The ministry’s macroeconomic and financial coordination undersecretary, Ferry Irawan, told The Jakarta Post on Friday that he had “not received an update on the specific date" from the Social Affairs Ministry.
Likewise, Finance Ministry spokesperson Deni Surajantoro told the Post the same thing on Friday, signaling that the Social Affairs Ministry was appointed to govern the cash aid disbursement, as it should be.
Social Affairs Minister Tri Rismaharini is an active member of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), a political party which has nominated presidential candidate Ganjar Pranowo, who is running against frontrunner Prabowo Subianto and his running mate Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the President's eldest son.
During the President's frequent tours to deliver Bansos in the past three months, which coincided with election campaign season, Tri was completely left out, as the authority for the distribution was designated to Airlangga.
Airlangga, who is the chairman of Golkar, and Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan, the chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN), were the two high-ranking officials that were involved in the Bansos distribution to regions, aside from Jokowi. Both political parties are among the supporters of Prabowo-Gibran.
