Gus Ipul: Accurate Data Essential for Effective Poverty Alleviation
Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf has highlighted the importance of data accuracy as a measure for distributing social assistance. He believes that accurate data is essential to effectively combat poverty.
“According to the President’s instruction, it must begin with accurate data. This data is strategically important because our work is largely determined by accurate data. With accurate data, programmes will be well-targeted and effective for alleviating poverty and improving social welfare,” said Gus Ipul, as he is commonly known, during detikcom’s Inspirasi Bulan Suci (Sacred Month Inspiration) event on Monday (9 March 2026).
Beyond data improvement, Gus Ipul outlined other presidential directives from President Prabowo that require implementation: specialised education for disadvantaged families and targeted social assistance distribution. He stressed that all these programmes can function effectively only with accurate data support.
To prevent conflicts of interest, Gus Ipul revealed that data sourcing has been transferred from the Ministry of Social Affairs. The ministry now uses data provided by the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) to consolidate poverty data for social assistance distribution.
“Data is the key to executing the constitutional mandate and the President’s vision and mission. Over the past year, we have consolidated this. Previously, the Ministry of Social Affairs held the data; now, under Presidential Instruction No. 4, this is no longer permitted. The BPS must provide the data to prevent conflicts of interest,” he stated.
“If we provided the data and then evaluated it ourselves, there would only be one channel of oversight. Now it is different. The BPS provides the data, we assist with updates, and then we use that data as guidance for distributing assistance,” he explained.
Gus Ipul stated that data collection will be conducted collaboratively from neighbourhood level upwards, involving government and community members to ensure increasingly accurate government data. Citizens can even challenge inaccurate data through the Ministry of Social Affairs hotline.
“If we work continuously on this data together, with government involvement down to neighbourhood level and community participation, I am confident that our data will become increasingly accurate over time,” he said.
The Inspirasi Bulan Suci initiative welcomes Ramadan month, with detikcom bringing together national leaders to share knowledge during this blessed month. It presents solutions-oriented ideas, strategic thinking, and values of virtue relevant to national development.