JAKARTA. Following the postponement of the subsidized-fuel price hike by the House of Representatives the government has decided to put on hold the Rp30.6 trillion (US$34 billion) compensation package disbursement as stated in the 2012 Revised State Budget.

Coordinating People’s Welfare Minister Agung Laksono stated that the compensation package disbursement would be delayed until further notice.

“We can’t disburse the package for the simple reason that there is no fuel price hike,” he said.

The compensation package comprised programs like student financial-assistance schemes, cash assistance for the poor (BLSM), rice for the poor (raskin) and regional public transportation subsidies.

“We will continually organize market operations in order to monitor the daily movement of commodity prices in the markets and also to organize bazaars where staple commodities are sold below market price,” he said.

He said the bazaar program would be entirely funded by state-owned companies through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs. He added that at least 60 SOEs had already declared their participation in the program. “We hope that the program will reduce prices that have already increased,” he said. (The Jakarta Post)

Editor: Edy Can