Indonesian Audit Board (BPK): Rp 1.5 Trillion Wasted on Internet Quota Assistance

The Indonesian Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) found several problems in the 2021 internet quota assistance program, including inaccurate distribution and wastefulness.

This finding was presented by the BPK in the *Report on the Results of the Examination of the Internal Control System and Compliance with the Provisions of the 2021 Legislation*, released on May 31, 2022.

According to the BPK, in the distribution of internet quota assistance managed by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikbudristek) in 2021, 101,724 students/educators were indicated to have received double assistance, with a total value of approximately Rp7.73 billion.

Furthermore, 83,714 phone numbers received more than three times the internet quota assistance in a single distribution phase, with a total value of approximately Rp9.29 billion.

There was also a waste of state finances from unused internet data quota by recipients, with a total value of approximately Rp1.53 trillion.

In addition to the figures mentioned above, the BPK noted an overpayment of unused quota that had been returned to the state treasury of approximately Rp319.38 billion. This is still recorded as a problematic budget due to its less-than-thorough management.

"The problems in the social protection cluster found in the Ministry of Education and Culture are that the control over the Kemendikbud's internet data quota assistance program is inadequate," wrote the BPK in its report.

"The internet data quota assistance scheme has not been fully utilized for the needs of Distance Learning (PJJ)," the BPK continued.

(Also Read: [Wrong Target, 22,000 Civil Servants Received Wage Subsidy Assistance in 2021](https://databoks.katadata.co.id/datapublish/2022/07/01/salah-sasaran-22-ribu-asn-terima-bantuan-subsidi-upah-pada-2021))