TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Future vice presidential candidate Sandiaga Uno has again touched on the impact of rupiah depreciation on the staple food price.

During a press conference in Jl. Kertanegara, Jakarta, last night, Sandiaga said the declining rupiah influenced the increasing price of staple food and the opportunity of job employment.

From visits to several regions, Sandiaga explained, the community had never questioned about the structure of his campaign team. “They always ask about economic issues such as the price hike of staple food and lack of job employment, instead of the campaign team,” he said.

Read: Rupiah Weakens, Sandiaga Asks Millennials Not to Go Abroad

The former Jakarta deputy governor said he did not want Prabowo-Sandiaga coalition to be disconnected with the people’s aspirations and complaints in light of the recent concerning economic condition.

According to Sandi, the economy today is really challenging, for example, a seller of tempeh (fermented soybean) shrank the size of its product that likened to as thin as Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) card. “I have met Ibu Yuli in Duren Sawit who said she has to produce the smaller size of tofu because it’s impossible to raise the price due to purchasing power,” he said.

Sandiaga Uno deemed the campaign team for the 2019 Presidential Election was a technical issue, while the economy particularly rupiah depreciation is the nation’s top priority issue.

“The economy affairs is nation’s issue and is fundamental as it emerges everywhere. How we have to concern on rupiah and take responsibility. We don’t want to talk about it without calculation,” said Prabowo during a press conference at his residence, Jakarta, Friday, September 7.

ANTARA