The poor increased by 4.5 million

National Institute of Sciences (LIPI) said the number of poor this year will increase by 4.5 million people after the fuel price rise. In total, there will be 41.7 million or 21.92% of the total population. It is higher than the government's prediction of 14.8 % to 15%. According to Adi Wijaya, LIPI researcher, without a direct cash aid program, the number of poor would be more grave equaling 53.7 million, or an increase of 16.5 million people. “The direct cash aid program helps three million families from near-poor groups,” he said in a press conference in Jakarta. (http://www.tempointeraktif.com/hg/nasional/2008/05/29/brk,20080529-123900,uk.html)