Antara, Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – Acting Jakarta Governor Heru Budi Hartono has responded sharply to accusations from his predecessor, Anies Baswedan, who alleged that Heru had undermined welfare programs established during Anies' tenure.
Anies, who served as the elected Jakarta governor from 2017 to 2022, is currently seeking reelection.
Heru, appointed to the governorship upon Anies' retirement, said on Saturday that his administration has not repealed financial subsidies for low-income families introduced by previous governors. These subsidies cover healthcare, education, transportation, food purchases, and utilities.
Heru emphasized that city spending during his tenure was carefully executed according to the provincial budget and existing regulations. He noted that the city government's fellowship program, known by the local acronym KJP, has been adjusted according to regulations.
"We made adjustments to the KJP according to regulations, but I never reduced the amount," he said, adding that all spending was supervised by state auditors.
"You may contest the election, but please stop making me a scapegoat," Heru said of Anies.
During a gathering with his supporters earlier in the day, Anies implied that the acting governor had slashed the financial subsidies introduced during his tenure. He called on Jakarta residents to support him to "recover what has been lost."
"Let's show them that we are fighting for the Jakarta people and to get back their welfare. A developed city whose people aren't happy isn't what we want," Anies said.
Earlier this year, a city official revealed that the existing welfare system, considered the most generous in the country, has incurred significant social spending costs for the city and attracted a large number of inter-province migrants every year.
"That's part of the reason why so many people have been drawn to Jakarta, which generously spends Rp 17.18 trillion ($1 billion) in subsidies every year," said Budi Awaluddin, head of the Jakarta Civil Registration Office.
Monthly subsidies include up to Rp 450,000 for elementary or high school students, Rp 37,800 for health insurance, up to Rp 280,000 for food, Rp 300,000 for orphans, and Rp 300,000 for the elderly. Additionally, the city allocates Rp 9 million in subsidies for tuition fees for university students from low-income families, payable every semester, Budi disclosed during a forum group discussion held at the B-Universe Media Holdings office in April.
Budi hinted that many new city dwellers are parasitic users of the city's welfare system, noting that most of them lack specific job skills or adequate education levels, leading to an overreliance on Jakarta's welfare system.
"Over the past four years, 80 percent of new arrivals have been high school graduates or below, with a significant concentration in slum areas across Jakarta," Budi said.
The influx of migrants from other provinces has resulted in "never-ending social problems" for Jakarta, including a rising poverty rate, increased unemployment, the proliferation of slum areas, and escalated social costs for healthcare and education, he said.
Furthermore, many Jakarta ID holders have refused to update their registered addresses despite relocating to other provinces, intending to continue benefiting from the city's welfare system, Budi added.
"Jakarta ranks 30th among cities with the worst traffic in the world and has recently been labeled the most-polluted city globally," Budi lamented.
Source: https://jakartaglobe.id/news/acting-jakarta-governor-tells-anies-to-stop-blame-game-on-campaign-trai