Poverty rate reduction 4.5pc by 2029
Published on: Sun, May 11, 2025
By: Jakarta Globe Text Size: Currently, 24.8m people, or 8.7pc of Indonesia's population live in poverty. Maluku and Papua have the highest poverty rate while Kalimantan has the lowest and Java has the largest number of poor people. JAKARTA: President Prabowo Subianto aims to eliminate extreme poverty by 2026 and reduce Indonesia's overall poverty rate from 8.7 percent to 4.5 percent by the end of his tenure in 2029, according to Chief Community Empowerment Minister Muhaimin Iskandar. 'Currently, 24.8 million people, or 8.7 percent of our population, live in poverty. By 2029, this figure should not exceed 4.5 percent, and ideally, we can reduce it even further,' Muhaimin said after chairing a ministerial meeting on poverty reduction Friday. The meeting focused on concrete measures to address poverty, with Muhaimin stressing the need for synergy between ministries and agencies, particularly with Chief Human Development Minister Pratikno and 17 other institutions. 'These ministries and agencies will play a key role in executing the President's directives. We will move forward together with a coordinated strategy to tackle poverty and extreme poverty,' he added. A key instrument in this effort is the National Social and Economic Single Database (DTSEN), which Muhaimin said would be continuously validated to ensure accuracy and help direct aid to the right recipients. He cited the Housing Ministry's BSPS housing incentives and housing subsidy programs as examples of initiatives that rely on accurate data to ensure aid reaches those who need it most. Housing Minister Maruarar Sirait welcomed the initiative, saying that reliable data is crucial for effectively implementing government programs. 'We can now proceed with BSPS and housing subsidies as directed by President Prabowo, ensuring precise targeting,' Maruarar said. He said the database would prevent misallocation of aid, ensuring only those in need receive assistance. 'This data is crucial to prevent situations where the wealthy benefit while the poor are left out,' he added. According to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), Indonesia's poverty rate fell to 8.57 percent in September 2024, the lowest level since poverty data was first recorded in 1960. This marks a 0.46 percentage point decline from March 2024 and a 0.79 percentage point drop from the previous year. The decrease was driven by strong economic growth, with the country's GDP expanding by 5.35 percent in the third quarter of 2024. As of September 2024, the poverty line was set at Rp 595,242 ($36.5) per capita per month, with rice, cigarettes, housing, and fuel contributing the most to household expenses. Maluku and Papua had the highest poverty rate at 18.62 percent, while Kalimantan had the lowest at 5.3 percent. However, Java had the largest number of poor people, with 12.62 million living in poverty, while Kalimantan had the fewest at 0.91 million. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malay Mail
2 days ago
- Malay Mail
Indonesian President Prabowo grants clemency to jailed political foes ahead of Independence Day
JAKARTA, Aug 1 — Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto pardoned two political rivals, a former trade minister and a senior politician from an opposition party a few weeks after both were sentenced to jail, officials said. Prabowo granted amnesty to Hasto Kristiyanto, the secretary general of parliament's largest party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), Law Minister Supratman Andi Agtas said late on Thursday in a news conference broadcast by local media, after meeting the House's deputy speaker. Hasto was sentenced to 3-1/2 years in prison last week for bribing an election official but the amnesty revokes his sentence though his conviction will still stand. The president also granted an abolition for Thomas Trikasih Lembong, a trade minister under President Joko Widodo who was sentenced to 3-1/2 years in prison for improperly granting sugar import permits, Supratman said in the news conference. The abolition means, Lembong, who was the campaign manager of Prabowo's rival candidate in last year's presidential election, is acquitted of the charges and his sentence. Prabowo granted the clemencies as the government sees the need to unite all political elements and as part of Indonesia's independence celebrations in August, said Supratman. 'We need to build this nation together, with all the political elements... And both have contributed to the republic,' Supratman said. It is common for the Indonesian president to give pardons ahead of the national independence day on August 17. The amnesty for Hasto was among the pardons given to more than 1,100 other people, Supratman added. Lawyers for Hasto and Lembong did not immediately respond for Reuters' request for comments. Under Indonesian law, the president has the authority to give amnesty and abolition but it requires approval from the parliament, said Bivitri Susanti from Indonesia's Jentera School of Law. Still, she said the amnesty given to Hasto was rather 'political' to gain support from the largest opposition party in the parliament while for Lembong, the government is responding to growing protests from the public over his sentence. Other observers were concerned the pardons undercut efforts by the judiciary to deal with corruption in a country where concerns about graft and government misconduct are high. 'It shows that the government could intervene in law enforcement, make it as a political bargain,' said Muhammad Isnur from rights group Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation. — Reuters
Malay Mail
3 days ago
- Malay Mail
Anwar thanks Prabowo for Indonesia's support in Asean, calls for unity amid rising regional tensions
JAKARTA, July 31 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has expressed appreciation to President Prabowo Subianto for Indonesia's strong support for Malaysia's Asean Chairmanship, as both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to Asean unity and relevance amid rising geopolitical tensions. The message was conveyed during the 13th Annual Consultation between the two leaders held in Jakarta on Tuesday, where both reaffirmed Asean's role as a key platform for regional cooperation and stressing the importance of Asean Centrality and resilience amid rising geopolitical uncertainty. Anwar said he looks forward to welcoming Prabowo at the 47th Asean Summit and Related Summits in October. 'They underscored the need for Asean to stay relevant, united, and proactive in addressing regional and global challenges, while advancing integration to secure peace, stability, and prosperity in the region,' stated the joint statement which issued by Malaysia's Foreign Ministry on Wednesday. On the situation in Myanmar, the leaders expressed deep concern over the continued violence and humanitarian crisis and reaffirmed their commitment to the Five-Point Consensus (5PC) as Asean's main framework in resolving the political impasse and called for an immediate, nationwide, and permanent ceasefire to facilitate humanitarian aid and inclusive dialogue. Prabowo and Anwar also reiterated their readiness to work closely with Asean and external partners in supporting the full implementation of the 5PC toward a peaceful and lasting solution for the people of Myanmar. Meanwhile, Anwar also briefed Prabowo on the outcome of a Special Meeting convened by Malaysia on July 28 to address tensions between Cambodia and Thailand, where both parties agreed to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire. Prabowo commended Malaysia's efforts and expressed full support for its role in promoting regional stability, the statement stated. On Palestine, both leaders stressed the urgency of global collective action to reach a just and lasting solution, calling for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza. Prabowo and Anwar also condemned the use of starvation as a weapon and urged the international community to ensure the unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid. 'They strongly rejected attempts to impose Israeli sovereignty on the Occupied Palestinian Territory or forcibly displace Palestinians, while welcoming the growing recognition of the State of Palestine and urging all countries yet to do so to recognise it,' the statement read. Both sides agreed to convene the 17th Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) as a follow-up to this year's consultation and confirmed that the 14th Annual Consultation will be held in Malaysia in 2026. — Bernama
Malay Mail
3 days ago
- Malay Mail
Malaysia-Indonesia pact sets stage for energy, labour protections, strategic halal and palm oil leadership
JAKARTA, July 31 — Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim have agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, energy, and cross-border connectivity, while supporting efforts to expand opportunities in strategic sectors. In a joint statement following the 13th Annual Consultation in Jakarta on Tuesday, both leaders welcomed the convening of the First Malaysia-Indonesia Investment Cooperation Working Group on September 2, 2024 in Indonesia, aimed at enhancing trade and investment ties. 'Both leaders noted new investment prospects in sectors such as infrastructure, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices, and pledged greater collaboration on food security and sustainability initiatives, including carbon trading,' stated the statement released by Malaysia's Foreign Ministry on Wednesday night. Prabowo welcomed continued Malaysian investment in Indonesia's new Nusantara capital city (IKN), particularly in renewable energy and hydrogen development. Both sides agreed to explore cross-border low-carbon energy trade between Peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra, including a direct interconnection to enhance regional integration. The leaders also urged the swift convening of the Fourth Meeting of the Joint Trade and Investment Committee this year and called for expedited efforts to normalise trade at the Tebedu-Entikong border. On the halal industry, Indonesia and Malaysia are committed to facilitating market access and regulatory alignment and aiming to strengthen Asean's global halal competitiveness. Acknowledging long-standing discussions since 2018, the leaders expressed hope that the MoU on counter-terrorism can be finalised and agreed to explore the technical aspects of transferring sentenced persons, pending relevant legal developments in Indonesia. The leaders also reiterated commitments to protect Indonesian migrant workers and expand Indonesia's Community Learning Centres (CLCs) in Malaysia in line with international commitments to children's rights. As co-founders of the Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC), Malaysia and Indonesia reaffirmed cooperation on sustainable palm oil as well as counter negative global campaigns targeting the commodity, the statement said. — Bernama
