BANDUNG, unpas.ac.id – Government’s decision on raising subsidized fuel prices on September 4, 2022 triggered the pros and cons of various parties.
The price of RON 90 (Pertalite) fuel rose from Rp. 7,650/liter to Rp. 10,000/liter, diesel oil rose from Rp. 5,150/liter to Rp. 6,800/liter, while RON 92 (Pertamax) rose from Rp. 12,500/liter. to Rp. 14,500/liter.
Public Policy Observer as well as Unpas Vice Rector III, Dr. H. Deden Ramdan, M.Si. said, the increase in fuel prices is inevitable considering the energy subsidies issued by the government have reached Rp 502.4 trillion. The budget is too large and will continue to grow if it is continued until the end of 2022.
From a political point of view, the increase in subsidized fuel prices could also affect the government era of President Jokowi. Towards the 2024 presidential election, the increase in fuel prices is one of the determinant aspects which can affect the government era of President Jokowi.
“This is such hard decision which should be taken by President Jokowi at the end of his term. If I observe carefully, the level of public’s satisfactory has its potential of being ‘freefall’. There will be a party getting advantage, while the other getting its distance from government era of Jokowi,” he said.
He also said that public’s future satisfactory and condition highly rely on Jokowi’s capability in solving problems at the time of fuel price hike, such as inflation, people’s purchasing power, as well as ability on maintaining the economy.
Figures of Political Parties being Indifferent, Netizens Protest
The sudden increase in fuel prices also provoked a reaction from netizens. They protested on social media, offending political party elites and people’s representatives who seemed unmoved by the increase in fuel prices in the midst of the downward trend in world oil prices.
Based on his observations, currently almost 90 percent of power is dominated by parties supporting the government. The parties that in the previous government rejected the increase in fuel prices are now in the grip of the government.
“In the context of public communication, government, represented by the Minister of Finance has provided rationalization and dissemination regarding the burden of the state. However, what is needed is the expertise of the political elites in the government or opposition seats to play these knots without sacrificing the people,” he explained.
Considering that Indonesia will soon enter a political year, he predicts that there will be a bubble gum economy or the ups and downs of the effect of public trust in the government.
“If the war between Russia and Ukraine subsides, I believe the balance of world oil supply and demand can also return to normal. I believe in the Minister of Finance who is trying to think hard to balance the state budget, all that’s left is to arrange cooperation between parties and show that Indonesia can go through a recovery period, including the impacts,” he said.
However, he continued, in a democratic world, this kind of turmoil is a dialectic. As long as it does not benefit certain parties, big steps must be taken.
“Jer Basuki Mawa Beya, every struggle requires sacrifice. That struggle and sacrifice must be managed in such a way,” he said. (Reta)**
