Parties Offer Similar Economic Programs

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Political parties running the presidential race, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), Golkar and Gerindra, are beginning to campaign their economic programs. Most of the policies they offered are similar, except for PDIP and Gerindra's "debating" on subsidy programs, such as social aid and rice for to the poor.

PDIP's team leader for Planned Universal Development Programming, M. Prakosa, said the party would continue with the current subsidy programs, such as social assistance and cheap rice, by performing basic repairs.

According to Prakosa, the problem with the cheap rice program lies in the distribution that misses the target, misappropriation of funds, and the quality of the rice. "What needs to be done is overseeing the distribution," he said, adding that PDIP will also continue with the social aid policy.

Conversely, Gerindra chairman Suhandri said that social aids should be given to people who work, not to everyone for free. "Social Aid and direct cash assistance are not for lazy people," he said yesterday, asserting that aid disbursement should be done in conjunction with job creations.

Regarding the cheap rice program, Gerindra is quite firm in its stance, saying that it is unnecessary. Basic food needs, Suhandri said, can be met with local foods available in all parts of Indonesia. "Instead of importing rice, it is better to go back to the local food," he said.

Golkar's stance is similar with the PDI-P's, with party members Melchias Marcus Mekeng saying that social aid "should still be given, particularly for natural disaster reliefs." However, he said that social aid fund should be managed by the Ministry of Social Affairs. Melchias is a member of the House of Representative's (DPR) Finance Committee of from the Golkar faction.

Regarding fuel subsidies, Prakosa said PDIP wants the restoration of subsidized fuel's economic value to be done gradually. "If the subsidy is revoked all of the sudden, the people will not be ready psychologically," he said.

Meanwhile, according to Suhardi, Gerindra assesses that fuel subsidy removal can actually be done as long as the government is ready to provide mass transit for the people.

MAYA NAWANGWULAN | ANGGA SUKMA WIJAYA | ALI HIDAYAT | MARIA YUNIAR