T

he Jakarta Smart Card Plus (KJP Plus) is not being used only to assist in educational costs, as designed, but rather to provide cash for everyday expenses, activists have said.

“It can [now] be used to buy many things, not only school needs,” Jakarta Residents Forum activist Azas Tigor Nainggolan said as quoted by wartakota.tribunnews.com on Thursday during a discussion on Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan’s one-year performance in Central Jakarta.

Sumiati, an East Jakarta resident who also attended the event, said the parents of cardholders in her area used the education subsidy for various purposes, such as to buy cosmetics or clothing.

Many stores accept payment using the KJP, including clothing shops, she said, adding that several stores provided fast-cash using the scheme.

Moreover, Sumiati said, parents of the KJP holders could conspire with stores to use their KJP by pretending to buy school uniforms to get cash. “[For example] we debit Rp 500,000 [US$35] from the card. Then the store will give us Rp 400,000 cash, while the rest is [retained as] the store’s fee.”

She also said some holders used their KJP to obtain credit.

“A borrower can get a loan of Rp 500,000. The borrower gives their KJP to the lender, who will hold the card for five months [or] the borrower can get the card returned sooner after paying Rp 1.25 million,” Sumiati said.