Daniel A. Fajri, Jakarta – President Joko Widodo or Jokowi said that he plans to deliver social assistance to Indonesian citizens until June 2024 if the State Budget allows for it.

He relayed this information during his visit to Malang CIty's Gadang Bulog Warehouse on Thursday, December 14. Jokowi visited the warehouse to inspect rice stock availability and deliver social assistance in the form of the government's rice reserve to several beneficiaries.

"Let's hope that in April, May, and June the State Budget is adequate so we may extend the social assistance program," Jokowi said, cited from Presidential Palace Press Bureau.

Initially, the social assistance program would last until March 2024. He ensured that people who had not received the assistance would receive it soon.

A political observer from Al-Azhar University Ujang Komarudin highlighted that one of Jokowi's strategies to maintain its public support was delivering social assistance.

"Social assistance is necessary for politicians and political parties to boos public approval," he said when called by Tempo on Tuesday evening.

According to a survey by Litbang Kompas, the majority of the public is still supportive of the government. In December 2023, the percentage reached a staggering 73.5 percent with 26.5 percent expressing their discontent.

Earlier, the social assistance program was also criticized by Anies Baswedan, the presidential candidate number one. He claimed that social assistance would not solve the root cause of the poverty issues.

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/1809687/jokowi-plans-to-extend-social-assistance-program-to-june-202