The Quiet Politics of Survival:
One Woman's View from Indonesia's Margins
In a modest home in Purwokerto Timur, 40-year-old Merry navigates daily life with a careful eye on household expenses. With only an elementary school education and two school-aged children to support, government assistance programs have become a familiar part of her economic landscape – but not necessarily her political one.
"Bansos did come before the election," Merry acknowledges matter-of-factly, referring to the government's social assistance programs. For six months leading up to Indonesia's presidential election, her family received 10 kilograms of rice monthly. This coincided with her ongoing benefits from the Family Hope Program (PKH) and Non-Cash Food Assistance (BPNT). Yet when asked if these benefits influenced her vote, her response is a straightforward "No." The assistance, while helpful, did not sway her long-held political convictions.
Merry's experience contradicts simplistic narratives about Indonesia's poor being easily manipulated by state largesse. Despite rumors circulating in her community that "if you don't vote for candidate number two, you won't get assistance," she maintained her independence. "I already had my own choice," she states, suggesting a political identity formed well before any election-season generosity.
Her critique of campaign promises reveals a pragmatic assessment rarely credited to voters of her socioeconomic status. When asked about President-elect Prabowo's signature promise of free milk and meals for schoolchildren, Merry expresses skepticism: "It's not appropriate... it's like having just one carton of milk that everyone fights over." This metaphor captures her practical understanding of resource limitations and implementation challenges that flashy campaign promises often gloss over.
The systems of assistance themselves have shaped Merry's political worldview. She describes how the BPNT program evolved from distributing actual food items to direct cash transfers after quality issues arose with e-Warung vendors. "The food was bad quality," she explains, demonstrating her awareness of accountability gaps. Similarly, she notes the verification processes intended to prevent misuse: "They survey to see if you're really eligible for help... because there's often misuse."
"I want a president who's honest and doesn't corrupt"
Far from being a passive recipient, Merry engages actively with these programs, maintaining careful documentation for her PKH benefits and adhering to reporting requirements. She participates in regular meetings with program facilitators and understands the specific eligibility criteria – that PKH benefits apply only to two children per family and cease once children complete high school. This systematic knowledge reflects an engaged citizen rather than a politically naive beneficiary.
When imagining what Indonesia's leadership should prioritize, Merry doesn't mention greater handouts. Instead, she focuses on educational support: "Everything should be for the children, for schooling... they say school is free, but the teachers still [require fees]." Her vision centers on structural improvements to public services rather than short-term relief, revealing a sophisticated understanding of sustainable development.
"I want a president who's honest and doesn't corrupt," Merry states plainly when asked about her ideal leader. This fundamental desire for integrity suggests that while assistance programs help her family survive, they haven't blinded her to larger governance issues. She observes current political conflicts with a critical eye, describing how politicians are "fighting with each other" rather than serving constituents.
The careful timing of assistance distribution hasn't escaped Merry's notice. The six-month rice program ended in July, just after the election, though it has since resumed with a modified schedule. Yet this political calculation doesn't seem to have generated the loyalty it might have intended. Merry approaches these benefits as entitlements rather than gifts, understanding their place within larger social policy frameworks.
In Merry's nuanced perspective, we glimpse how Indonesia's social assistance recipients maintain political agency despite economic vulnerability. Her ability to accept needed help while forming independent political judgments challenges patronizing assumptions about voters like her.