TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Edhy Prabowo, a member of the House of Representatives' Commission IV overseeing agriculture, said that high national distribution cost had resulted in the skyrocketing prices of food.

“The distribution cost [in Indonesia] is twice as much as in other ASEAN countries,” Edhy said on Thursday, June 25, 2015 at Kramat Jati Wholesale Sarket, Jakarta.

According to Edhy, the distribution cost accounts for 12 percent of the selling prices for products, while those in other ASEAN countries only account for six percent. In addition, the distribution time for goods to reach consumers has been sluggish. Prices often soar due to imbalanced demands and supplies.

Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman claimed that he had coordinated with Transportation Minister Ignasius Jonan to expedite the time for ships carrying basic necessities to dock at ports. Amran said the sluggish distribution had caused prices to soar in the market.

“The basic necessities are available because the Transportation Minister has prioritized trucks that carry food,” Amran added.

Edhy praised Amran’s initiative to conduct a market operation since the basic necessity prices in the market had been stable.

Kramat Jati Market manager M. Salam said the market operation had helped vendors by ensuring the supplies and stabilizing prices.

“Nobody has been disadvantaged [by the market operation]. We appreciated the initiative,” he said.

URSULA FLORENE SONIA