Dasco Immediately Calls Energy Minister and National Nutrition Agency Head During Student Audience

Deputy Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) Sufmi Dasco Ahmad made direct phone calls to Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia and National Nutrition Agency (BGN) Head Nanik S Deyang during an audience with university students at the Parliament Complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Friday afternoon. The audience was held to receive aspirations from students who had staged a demonstration in front of the DPR building.

Dasco stated that the student representatives, who came from campuses including HMI MPO, Trisakti, Mercubuana, and Esa Unggul, conveyed their aspirations to be forwarded to the government. ‘In essence, they conveyed aspirations to be passed on to the government, and to the DPR in its oversight function,’ Dasco told reporters.

Deputy Speaker Saan Mustopa revealed that Dasco immediately contacted the relevant officials during the meeting. ‘Some issues were answered directly, especially regarding the Free Nutritious Meal programme (MBG). Mr Dasco communicated directly with the Head of MBG, Mrs Nanik, and in the remaining time, it was noted that there are savings related to MBG governance of around 70 trillion rupiah from eliminating inefficient programmes,’ Saan explained.

Regarding the students’ first demand concerning fuel, particularly the increase in Pertamax prices and the scarcity of subsidised fuel, Dasco also communicated directly with the Energy Minister while the students listened in. The audience, which included other DPR leaders such as Commission III members Habiburokhman and Rano Alfath, began when student representatives entered the Abdul Muis Room at around 17:47 WIB.