Puskepi's Director Sofyano Zakaria said the distribution of subsidized Pertalite and diesel fuel oil type have missed the target, as 80 percent of it went to wealthy citizens.
"Subsidized fuel oil distribution must be right on target," he remarked in a statement here on Friday.
According to the National Social Economy Survey (Susenas), of the total Rp93.5 trillion of state budget subsidy and compensation for Pertalite, 86 percent, or Rp80.4 trillion, went to households and 14 percent, or Rp13.1 trillion, went to businesses.
However, the survey showed that of the total households that enjoyed the subsidy, only 20 percent of them came from the underprivileged group.
For diesel oil, of the total subsidy of Rp143.4 trillion, 11 percent, or Rp15 trillion, went to households, while 89 percent, or Rp127.6 trillion, went to the business world.
"In the household category (that received the subsidy), 95 percent of them are wealthy families and only five percent of them are underprivileged citizens," he elaborated.
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Zakaria opined that the government's decision to increase the price of Pertalite was the right policy, although it would pose a dilemma for it.
He noted that the decision might reduce the burden to the budget, but on the other hand, it would affect the people's purchasing power.
Zakaria urged the government to have in place a strict policy to ban luxury cars from using subsidized fuel oil and supervise public gas stations (SPBU) to prevent them from selling subsidized fuel oil to the affluent.
"For gas stations that sell Pertalite to luxury cars, the government can withdraw its license. It would be easier to control the gas stations than the luxury car owners," he stated.
Earlier in June, the state-run oil company PT Pertamina (Persero) had introduced the MyPertamina application as a requirement for buying subsidized Pertalite and Solar diesel type fuel oil in order to ensure accurate subsidy distribution.
People seeking to buy subsidized Pertalite and Solar diesel will need to register on the website and then wait for their vehicle and identity to be confirmed.
The MyPertamina system will help the company conduct data matching of users seeking to buy subsidized fuel oil.
People need not harbor concerns if they do not have the MyPertamina application, as the entire registration process will take place via https://subsiditepat.mypertamina.id/, Pertamina Patra Niaga President Director Alfian Nasution stated.
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Translator: Subagyo, Sri Haryati
Editor: Suharto
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