President Jokowi Responds to BPS’ Survey

President Jokowi, followed by Vice President and Cabinet Secretary, enters the State Palace to lead Plenary Cabinet Meeting, Monday (24/7) morning (Photo: Agung/PR)

The result of the survey of Statistics Indonesia (BPS) stated that in March 2017, the number of Indonesians living in poverty reached 27.77 million people (10.64 percent) or grew by 6,900 people compared to September 2016 (27.76 million people). Therefore, President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo asked all ministries/institutions to make efforts to reduce poverty rate.

Moreover, the President also asked BPS to coordinate with Coordinating Ministers before conducting a survey. “If BPS does something related with a survey, all ministries should know it. I ask Coordinating Ministers to coordinate this kind of thing,” the President said in his introductory remarks at a Plenary Cabinet Meeting, in the State Palace, Jakarta, Monday (24/7).

The result of BPS’ survey showed that the number of Indonesians living in poverty increases because  the survey and distribution of affordable rice (Beras Sejahtera) were not conducted at the same time. If they were, the result must be different. The President believes that the poverty rate decreases.“There was a delay in distributing the affordable rice to targeted households. Please be careful in managing sensitive matters like this,” the President said.

The Plenary Cabinet Meeting was attended by Vice President Jusuf Kalla, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Wiranto, Coordinating Minister for the Economy Darmin Nasution, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Puan Maharani, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut B. Pandjaitan, Minister of Home Affairs Tjahjo Kumolo, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, Minister of Defence Ryamizard Ryacudu, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Presidential Chief of Staff Teten Masduki, Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Minister of Communication and Informatics Rudiantara, Minister of National Development Planning/Head of National Development Planning Agency Bambang Brodjonegoro, Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Rini Soemarno, Minister of Law and Human Rights Yasonna Laoly, Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Susi Pudjiastuti, Minister of Industry Airlangga Hartarto, Minister of Agriculture Amran Sulaiman, Minister of State Apparatus Empowerment and Bureaucratic Reform Asman Abnur, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, Minister of Transportation Budi K. Sumadi, Attorney General Prasetyo, Commander of Indonesian National Defence Forces Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo, and Chief of Indonesian National Police Gen. Tito Karnavian.

 (DND/FID/SM/AGG/ES)(MMB/YM/Naster)