The government delayed social assistance distributions following allegations that regional leaders and officials were using state resources to support certain candidates in simultaneous regional elections.

Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Bima Arya Sugiarto said that the Ministry of Internal Affairs issued a circular instructing regional governments to stop social assistance payments until after the November elections.

“I signed the circular. Bima said in a statement on Wednesday that the postponement was for social assistance allocated from the regional budget. kompas.com.

He added that the policy will not affect the distribution of social assistance under programs initiated by ministries, but such expenditure must be reported to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Bima’s statement was made by Interior Minister Tito Karnavian and Alexander II, who oversees the internal affairs of the House of Representatives. It came a day after a meeting between the commission.

During the meeting, the minister told MPs about his plan to instruct local governments to delay aid distribution. Lewotobi noted that disaster-affected areas such as the East Flores regency in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), which suffered from a series of eruptions of Mount Laki-laki, would be exempt.

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