Mensos Risma: President Jokowi Instructed Social Assistance to be in the Form of Money, Not Goods

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – The Minister of Social Affairs (Mensos) Tri Rismaharini admitted that she had been asked by President Joko Widodo not to distribute social assistance (bansos) in the form of goods.

Therefore, since 2021 he has refused when asked to distribute social assistance in the form of rice.

This was conveyed by Risma when giving a press statement online on Friday (26/5/2023).

“Mr. President told me, ‘Ma’am, there’s no need for (social assistance) in the form of goods. All social assistance is in the form of money,” Risma said, quoting Jokowi’s statement at the time.

“So, that’s what I hold. The President’s order, so that in 2021 I don’t even want it when asked to distribute rice social assistance. I don’t want it. Because, I hold the President’s order, in the form of money. Not goods. That’s it,” he said .

Also read: When the Minister of Social Affairs, Risma, smells irregularities related to corruption in the Rice Social Assistance to Employee Mutations

However, Risma did not reveal who asked her to distribute social assistance in the form of rice and cooking oil.

He said, if there is social assistance in the form of rice or goods, it does not come from the Ministry of Social Affairs.

“So if there is goods (social assistance), that is clearly not from us. So if 2022 there is rice social assistance, the form of rice is also not from us,” said Risma.

“Since then I have obeyed Mr. President’s order that rice is not allowed. If later there is more rice social assistance, it will not be us. So please don’t ask us because I hold Mr. President’s mandate (social assistance) in the form of money. Not goods,” he said.

Risma also said that the data on recipients of social assistance was always updated every month.

“We will hand over the beneficiaries to whom we change every month. Because the improvement of the data is in accordance with the mandate of Law No. 13 of 2011,” said Risma.

Also read: Muhadjir Calls the Social Assistance Rice Case Once Entered the Inspectorate Radar of the Ministry of Social Affairs

The Ministry of Social Affairs is under the spotlight because of the alleged corruption case in the distribution of rice social assistance.

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) searched the Ministry of Social Affairs office on Tuesday (23/5/2023) in relation to an alleged corruption case in the distribution of social assistance rice to beneficiary families of the 2020-2021 PKH.

KPK Enforcement and Institutional Spokesperson Ali Fikri said the search was carried out to collect evidence so that the alleged corruption case in the distribution of social assistance rice would become clear.

Ali once mentioned that this alleged corruption involved a subsidiary of the State-Owned Enterprise (BUMN) PT Bhanda Ghara Reksa (Persero) or BGR Logistics and a number of private parties.

So far, the KPK has identified several suspects. However, their identities will only be revealed when the investigation is deemed sufficient.

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