TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko Widodo, or Jokowi, held a meeting with heads of the country's high institutions at the State Palace. Officials present in the meeting are, among others, Chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly Bambang Soesatyo, Chairwoman of the House of Representatives Puan Maharani, Chairman of the Regional Representatives Assembly La Nyala Matalitti, and Chief of the Constitution Court Anwar Usman.

Also present in the meeting were Chief of the Judicial Commission Nur Dewata, Chief of the Supreme Court M. Syarifuddin, and Chairwoman of the Supreme Audit Agency Isma Yatun.

"We had just met and talked for more than 2.5 hours. Mainly we discuss the global crisis, related to the food crisis, energy crisis, and financial crisis," Jokowi said at the State Palace on Friday, August 12, 2022.

During the meeting, Jokowi also discussed the fuel subsidy, which had reached a massive amount of IDR 502 trillion. Jokowi also explained that he had discussed the fate of the country for 2023 if the amount of subsidy that has been disbursed in 2022 had reached such a high number.

"Our subsidy is too large, try to find other countries that have a subsidy of IDR 502 trillion," Jokowi said.

Nevertheless, Jokowi mentioned that the disbursement of subsidies is necessary to delay the increase in fuel and electricity. Jokowi asserted that the subsidy had prevented the people from having to suffer from price increases.

"But can we sustain the IDR 502 trillion amount? If we can, then Alhamdulillah, that means the people will not be burdened. But if our State Budget cannot manage, then what? In other countries, fuel had reached IDR 17,000, IDR 18,000, double the original price. That is because it is the economic price," Jokowi said.

In the discussion, President Jokowi also encouraged the officials who are present to share their views concerning state revenues from commodity sales. Jokowi said that currently, commodity prices are still good, but Jokowi will continue to anticipate should the condition changes and if it begins to affect state revenue.

M JULNIS FIRMANSYAH

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