"We notice that the food assistance that is being distributed is linked to certain political agendas, one of which is the upcoming general election. Bulog is concerned about this and continues to carry out food aid distribution according to the provisions," he told ANTARA here on Friday.
According to Krisnamurthi, Bulog is committed to consistently distributing rice assistance to help people in need.
He said, the food assistance is the government's effort to suppress the fluctuations in prices of staples due to the El Nino weather phenomenon.
Meanwhile, Head of the National Food Agency (NFA) Arief Prasetyo Adi said the rice assistance that is targeted to reach 22 million beneficiary families (KPM) throughout Indonesia has nothing to do with any political interests and agendas.
He emphasized that the food assistance implementation started in 2023 and will continue to be carried out, as the government is prioritizing people in need.
"The president has assigned us to carry out the food assistance program until June. We are not doing this in January, February, and March due to the upcoming election," Adi remarked.
President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), on Thursday (February 1), reviewed the rice supply in the Government Rice Reserve at Bulog's warehouse in Meger Telukan, Sukoharjo, Central Java.
He also took the time to hand over food assistance directly to the recipients.
One of the aid recipients in Sukoharjo, 63-year-old Yantini, expressed her gratitude for the government's assistance.
"I am very grateful for this assistance. This rice means a lot to our family," she remarked.
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Translator: Indra P, Kenzu
Editor: Azis Kurmala
Copyright © ANTARA 2024
