SMRC Survey: Jokowi's Performance on Basic Food Prices Worsens

The prices of several basic necessities, or staple foods, have surged in recent weeks. This includes the prices of cooking oil and beef.

A survey by Saiful Mujani Research & Consulting (SMRC) shows a worsening trend in President Joko Widodo's (Jokowi) performance in making basic necessities affordable in March 2022. This assessment is the worst in the last three years.

A recorded 41% of respondents rated Jokowi's performance on this issue as worsening in March 2022. In March 2021 and March 2020, only 31% and 38% of respondents, respectively, viewed Jokowi's performance in making affordable basic necessities as worsening.

Meanwhile, only 23% of respondents assessed Jokowi's performance in making basic necessities affordable as improving. This number is lower than the 24% and 21% recorded in 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Furthermore, 31% of respondents considered Jokowi's performance in making basic necessities affordable to be unchanged in March 2022. This percentage is also lower than the 43% and 40% recorded in 2021 and 2020, respectively.

The deterioration in Jokowi's performance in making basic necessities affordable should serve as an evaluation for the government to improve its performance.

This survey involved 1,220 respondents aged 17 and above across Indonesia from March 13-20, 2022. The survey was conducted through face-to-face interviews using a multistage random sampling method. The survey's margin of error is ±3.12% at a 95% confidence level.