GENNUS.ID-JAKARTA| The appointment of Budiman Sudjatmiko as the Head of the Poverty Alleviation Acceleration Agency (BP Taskin) at the onset of the Prabowo–Gibran administration has⁰ drawn sharp criticism. Instead of becoming a “locomotive” for change, this new agency is accused of being trapped in symbolism and intellectual rhetoric that remains detached from the grassroots
struggles of the people.
These criticisms were voiced by Denny Charter, Deputy Chairperson and Head of the Election Winning Body (Bappilu) of the Nusantara Awakening Party (PKN). He assessed that BP Taskin has yet to demonstrate a concrete direction, appearing instead to be preoccupied with building a political image.
Research institutions such as Index Politica and CELIOS have issued a “red report card” regarding Budiman’s performance. The evaluations indicate a wide gap between the grand narratives often delivered by Budiman and the implementation of policies on the ground, which are deemed largely ceremonial.
*The Data Scandal: BPS Standards vs. World Bank Reality
The harshest criticism targets the use of poverty data. BPS (Statistics Indonesia) recorded that as of March 2025, the poverty rate fell to 8.47%, or approximately 24.06 million people. However, this figure is considered a “mirage” because it utilizes a poverty line threshold viewed as too low and inconsistent with global standards.
BPS Data: 24.06 million impoverished citizens
• World Bank Standard: Approximately 194.6 million people categorized as poor and vulnerable.
• The discrepancy of over 170 million people is seen as evidence of systemic blindness in identifying citizens who truly need assistance. BP Taskin is accused of ignoring international standards to maintain statistical prestige.
Fatal Impact: Eroding Purchasing Power and Misplaced Subsidies
The data misalignment is said to have a direct, damaging impact on two crucial sectors:
• Erosion of Lower-Middle Class Purchasing Power: By only recognizing 24 million people as poor, the state is accused of neglecting approximately 170 million other citizens living in vulnerability. These individuals are excluded from social protection schemes despite being the hardest hit by food inflation and rising energy costs.
• Subsidy Malpractice (Mis-targeting): Because the poverty threshold is set too low, many households that actually require aid—such as subsidies for fuel (BBM), electricity, and fertilizer—are excluded because they are statistically classified as “capable.”
”The government may feel they have achieved budget efficiency in subsidies. In reality, what is happening is the stripping away of the right to a decent life for 194 million people living below international standards of adequacy,” Denny emphasized.
“Omon-Omon” Without a Database
The narrative pushed by BP Taskin—pursuing high targets without transparency or data integrity—is being labeled as policy malpractice. Denny observes a sharp contradiction: while BP Taskin is busy with discourse (rhetoric), it has failed to address the structural roots of systemic poverty in both rural and urban areas.[]
(Egi)
