Gus Ipul Welcomes Business Collaboration to Help Meet Basic Needs of Citizens
Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf (Gus Ipul) has emphasised the importance of cross-sector collaboration to meet the basic needs of citizens in need. This was stated by Gus Ipul while serving as a speaker in the talk show ‘Kebaikan yang Bergerable - Melihat Perjalanan Kebaikan Bersama Indomaret’ at Menara Indomaret, Pantai Indah Kapuk, North Jakarta today.
“This is a good cooperation between the business world, non-governmental organisations, and the government. We are joining hands to help meet the basic needs of the community according to the results of assessments,” said Gus Ipul in a written statement on Wednesday (16/09/2026).
He stated that support must be provided based on conditions found in the field. The assistance provided includes the construction or renovation of schools, the provision of clean water, and the improvement of community health services.
“If what is needed is school construction, then we assist with school construction. If the community’s need is clean water, then we assist with clean water. If the need is healthcare services, then we assist according to the community’s needs,” he said.
One of the government’s efforts in the field of education is the ‘Sekolah Rakyat’ (People’s School) programme, aimed at children from poor and extremely poor families. This programme is one of the steps to provide educational access while simultaneously breaking the cycle of poverty.
Gus Ipul noted that support for education is not only related to the learning process but also to the condition of the child and their family. Therefore, educational needs must be viewed comprehensively based on field conditions.
In addition to education, the basic needs of the community also include health and access to clean water. According as him, support from non-governmental sectors can assist when these needs cannot yet be fully addressed through government schemes.
“This is an example that sometimes government schemes are insufficient, thus requiring collaboration,” he revealed.
Gus Ipul also highlighted the importance of data in the implementation of social protection. Consequently, the government continues to update the National Single Social and Economic Data (DTSEN) to ensure that interventions provided are appropriate to the citizens’ conditions.
He noted that there are still needs that cannot be fully handled through government schemes. Therefore, support from the business world, non-governmental organisations, and the community remains necessary.
Founder of BenihBaik.com, Andy F. Noya, stated that cross-party cooperation is also required so that collected donations can be managed appropriately and received by the intended beneficiaries. Andy also emphasised the importance of transparency in donation management, as the public needs to know how funds are used and who the beneficiaries of the assistance are.
“We want to ensure that the assistance truly reaches those in need,” he said.
Meanwhile, Marcomm Executive Director of PT Indomarco Prismatama, Bastari Akmal, explained that donations are made through customer participation during transactions at Indomaret outlets. The funds collected are placed in a special account before being distributed for social needs.
“This donation has been part of Indomaret’s social activities for almost 20 years,” said Bastari.
The programme, run in collaboration with BenihBaik.com, covers three areas: education through ‘Ruang Harapan’, water and sanitation through ‘Tumbuh Lestari’, and health through ‘Sehat Siaga’. Support includes school renovations, the construction of boreholes and communal sanitation facilities, as well as the provision of ambulances and the strengthening of community health centre (Puskesmas) facilities.
Gus Ipul appreciated the support provided to those in need. It is hoped that this step can continue to be developed by adjusting to field conditions and needs.
“We hope that collaborations like this continue to be carried out. The government certainly needs support from various parties to work together to help citizens in need,” he concluded.