by: Irfan Maulana*)
Since 2015, the National Electric Company has announced that subsidies for 23 million electricity with a voltage of 900 Volt Ampere (VA) will be revoked at the beginning of 2017. In addition, PLN also asks them to switch to non-subsidized electricity with a voltage of 1300 Volt Ampere (VA).
After being widely implemented, the policy caused unrest. The issue circulating widely at that time was that President Jokowi raised the basic electricity tariff quietly.
However, various opinions related to the increase in TDL also led to negative statements from several political figures. As stated by the chairman of the Gerindra Party Sodik Mudjahid who stated that the increase in TDL was very burdensome to the people and not pro-people, he said.
The Nurjaman Center for Indonesian Democracy (NCID) had issued a statement addressed to President Jokowi. Through Jajat as the director of NCID, he said that Jokowi should understand the difficult conditions of society. With the frequent issuance of policies that are not pro-people, of course Jokowi is not worthy of being called the leader of the grassroots. In fact it is not the welfare that is accepted by the people, but the burdens of people’s lives which are increasing.
This was disputed by the Managing Director of PT PLN Sofyan Basir, who stressed that there was no increase in the Basic Electricity Tariff as warganet shocked in the universe of social media, the issue of increasing electricity tariffs was made as a slander aimed at the Jokowi era government.
Sofyan Basir said that PLN and the government could not arbitrarily raise TDL. The increase must also be approved by the DPR. He also stated that he only issued a policy to no longer provide subsidies in the 900 watt category to the public. Because, initially the subsidy with this category was intended for the poor, but in fact many enjoyed the middle class.
ESDM Minister Ignasius Jonan said that the removal of the 900 VA electricity subsidy which resulted in the increase in TDL was a step to succeed in achieving the development equality program. Because, the revocation of subsidies will later be used to support the development of several regions that have not felt the flow of electricity in all regions of Indonesia.
In addition, Jonan also added that at that time there were 2,500 villages that had never felt electricity. Meanwhile, there are around 10,000 deserts enjoying minimal electricity so that it is necessary to do even distribution by revoking electricity subsidies according to the ability of the community.
However electricity is an irreplaceable need in the present era, although we know that energy sources are indeed diverse such as the sun, wind, geothermal, etc., but the output produced is electricity, which can be used for various purposes such as running a business, or support household activities.
The vital need for electricity will certainly be the basis for PLN and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources to make efforts so that all villages can enjoy electricity evenly.
Regarding the increase in Electricity Basic Rates, of course Jokowi’s policy is not taken unilaterally, PLN and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources certainly have reviewed the situation in the field which states that in Indonesia there are still areas that have not been electrified by PLN.
Ahead of a political party the news about the issue of price increases was indeed widely fried, this certainly became a weapon of the opposition to be able to win votes from the people. Determination of Basic Electricity Rates for example, which had experienced an increase in the previous year. The opposition will say that the increase is the president’s fault.
But we should think more broadly, that the performance of the President is assisted by the Minister of Agriculture in various fields, the minister’s duty is to strive for good government programs, of course these various efforts have been carefully considered by the ministry and agreed by the DPR.
Of course if there is something wrong with the policy, it would be nice if the complaint was submitted to the ministry directly. The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources is also open if there is a complaint from the public. Through the website www.subsidi.djk.esdm.go.id the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources serves subsidized electricity complaints related to the targeted electricity subsidy policy program.
Now is not the right time to continue blaming President Jokowi, the many problems that exist in Indonesia certainly need a real role to solve, not by spreading hatred on social media.
As a society of the modern era, we should think more deeply and see problems from various perspectives. We are aware that the various policies produced by the Ministry and BUMN are policies formulated by educated people about their work and the disciplines they are involved in.
Menodong government contains people – people who are not pro-people is a trait that is no less foolish than blaming the past. Thanks to the evenly distributed electricity, this will reduce social inequality. Humans should think and interpret something not only from their own eyes.
) * Author is The Observer of Socio-Economic Issues