Jakarta. President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on Monday instructed his officials to redesign the group iftar budget to help the poor, as questionably wealthy civil servants remain in the spotlight for their lavish lifestyles.

"Our officials' lifestyles are gaining tons of public spotlight. So I ask government officials to welcome this Ramadan with the spirit of modesty, and not go over the top. We will reallocate the iftar gathering budget for activities that bring more benefits such as helping the poor, orphans, and the people in need,” Jokowi said in a video broadcast. 

“We can even use the budget to host Pasar Murah [‘affordable markets’],” Jokowi said, referring to the bazaars that sell staple foods at a much cheaper price for the poverty-stricken. 

In the video, Jokowi reminded the public that the ban on iftar gatherings only applied to state officials, particularly ministers and government agency heads. In other words, the public is free to host group iftars.

Jokowi last week had told civil servants to not host group iftars. In the original circular, Jokowi said the ban on iftar parties was necessary as Indonesia was transitioning to an endemic phase of the Covid-19 outbreak. The circular did not explicitly mention civil servants’ lavish lifestyles. Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung then released a statement on the ban, saying that government officials should lead modest lives. 

More civil servants continue to get exposed for their suspicious wealth while many Indonesians are still struggling with poverty. 

The Transport Ministry on Monday announced they have temporarily removed civil servant Muhammad Rizky Alamsyah from his post at the sea transport directorate general for further investigation. Rizky’s wife previously had been flexing the family’s wealth on social media.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) reported that 10.1 percent of Indonesians lived below the national poverty line in 2021.

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