Jakarta – After voicing his strong opposition to Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono's cash assistance program, Jakarta gubernatorial candidate Anies Baswedan has reportedly adopted a similar program at the community unit (RW) level.

Anies' running mate Sandiaga Uno said on Wednesday that the candidate pair would not distribute Rp 1 billion (US$74,599) per RW annually, as Agus had promised before was knocked out of the race in the first round. However, Sandiaga further said, each RW would receive money based on programs it carried out to develop local communities.

"We aren't focusing on the total amount of money, but on the programs of each area. The amount [of money] for one area will not be the same as others'," Sandiaga said as quoted by tribunnews.com. The businessman said he and Anies had adopted the program because they considered that they and Agus' camp shared a similar vision.

The program appears to be Anies and Sandiaga's most recent attempt to win the hearts of Jakartans who previously voted for Agus. "We are trying to embrace Agus Yudhoyono's voters who put high hopes in the RW development program," Sandiaga continued.

During a public debate for the first round of the election in January, Anies said the cash assistance program was not the right answer to economic problems in Jakarta. The program would also do little to instil a "sense of pride" among Jakarta residents, he added. At that time, Anies said that he and Sandiaga would focus on combating poverty. (idb/ebf)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/03/09/aniessandiaga-backflip-on-cash-assistance-program.html