Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives` commission dealing with finance and banking, Dr Harry Azhar Azis, MA, said here Saturday "the criteria should be redefined in the sense that they should more clearly indicate weather the subsidy is for all groups of people, the poor or also for the rich."
Speaking on the sidelines of a training course on central bank affairs for journalists, Harry pointed out that the fuel oil subsidy was so far being enjoyed by people who had two-wheel and four-wheel vehicles in urban areas.
This situation was neglecting fishermen and farmers in rural areas who also had the right to enjoy the subsidy, he said, adding that only 30 percent of the fuel oil subsidy amount the government had made available went to them (farmers, fishermen and other poor people).
He said in the 2012 draft regional budget, the amount for subsidy reached Rp30 trillion, and if the government failed to redefine the subsidy clearly and in the interest of the people, it(the subsidy) was feared to go to people belonging to the middle class and the rich.
In addition, starting January 2012, there should be an initiative to limit the fuel oil subsidy, said Harry who is also chairman of the House of Representatives` Budget Agency.
"We have to take the measure but we still have to determine in greater detail the extent of the limitation," he added.
However, Harry said limiting the subsidy also meant retrenchment and he was then thinking to whom the funds would go.
On the inflation in the country, he said the working committee on inflation of the House would discuss sustainably to produce technical regulations on inflation.
"We continue to push the government until we produce the technical regulations on inflation in the country. The variable of the measurement and the result are accountable," he said. ***5*** (T.E009)
(T.KR-LWA/B/HAJM/17:35/a014)
(T.SYS/B/KR-LWA/A014) 15-10-2011 18:38:38
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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