Jakarta, CNN Indonesia —
Government and PT Pertamina (Persero) continues to strive to ensure energy subsidies, especially fuel oil (BBM) pertalite and solar is right on target.
Right on target means that the people who enjoy the fuel subsidy are the people who can’t afford it. This is because, in fact, many middle class and even upper class people also consume subsidized fuel.
Therefore, Pertamina plans to tighten sales of subsidized fuel by requiring the public to register on the https://subsiditepat.mypertamina.id/ website and the MyPertamina application before buying.
The trial for purchasing subsidized fuel using the application is scheduled to start July 1, 2022. The plan is to conduct the trial in several cities/regencies spread across five provinces, including West Sumatra, South Kalimantan, North Sulawesi, West Java, and DI Yogyakarta.
With this policy, Pertamina hopes to make the distribution of subsidized fuel more targeted. Because the data in the application will show the buyer is entitled to subsidized fuel or not.
“The most important thing is to make sure that you become a registered user on the MyPertamina website, if all the data is matched, then consumers can make transactions at gas stations and all transactions will be recorded digitally,” said Pertamina Patra Niaga President Director Alfian Nasution in his official statement at the end of last June.
This policy is also expected to reduce subsidized fuel consumption by up to 10 percent this year. This is in accordance with the provisions for limiting the purchase of subsidized fuel as stated in the revised Presidential Regulation (Perpres) Number 191 of 2014 concerning the Supply, Distribution, and Retail Selling Price of BBM.
Director of the Center of Economics and Law Studies (Celios) Bhima Yudhistira strongly criticized the policies drawn up by the government and Pertamina. Because, he considered this a subtle or indirect way to force people to use Pertamax.
“I don’t think it’s right and now many will object because it’s like being forced to buy Pertamax, especially the vulnerable middle class,” he told CNNIndonesia.
According to him, the government wants to make fuel subsidies only enjoyed by the poor without thinking about the middle class. In fact, there are 115 million middle class people who are very vulnerable in Indonesia.
This vulnerable middle class is also considered to need subsidies instead of being forced to buy Pertamax. Moreover, the disparity in the price of subsidized and non-subsidized fuel is so far that it will make purchasing expenses even greater.
“For example, Pertamax and Pertalite, the difference is more than Rp. 4,000 per liter. It should have been when the price difference was not far, it was just regulated. People’s income to buy fuel could increase, it would reduce other production expenditures. This is worrying durable goods and Fast Moving Consumer Goods will be depleted,” he explained.
This condition is considered to be able to hold back the ongoing economic growth. For this reason, he hopes that this policy will be reconsidered.
“Don’t be stingy on subsidies, because economic recovery still needs government support, after all, the state budget is still in surplus,” said Bhima.
In addition, he emphasized that before starting this policy, the data on recipients of fuel subsidies should be corrected. This is because the distribution of targeted subsidies is most effective if the data is accurate. If not corrected, it will create a gap for the rich to enjoy greater subsidies.
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