TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:The Public Enterprise National Logistics Agency (Perum Bulog) is calling on the government to grant it the authority to import soybeans to stabilize market prices. President director of Bulog, Sutarto Alimoeso, said that soybeans should be imported through one door to prevent price speculation. "Ideally, soybeans should be imported by Bulog and be appropriately controlled so no one can play and speculate," Sutarto told reporters in the Bulog office in Jakarta on Monday. He said that before the Bulog was commissioned by the government to stabilize and support the supply of soybeans, the government must first determine strategic food commodities and the politics of national food. If soybeans are included on the list, then they must be protected and Bulog could be given the authority to make the necessary arrangements. "This strategic food commodity means that someone has to protect consumers and producers against prices. Although imported, the government must count its needs and supplies," he said. In terms of Bulog’s readiness to stabilize soybean prices, Sutarto said it was necessary to be ready at all times. He also promised that the negative stigma attached to Bulog in the New Order era would not be repeated. "I’m always trying to convince people that Bulog is experienced with handling food, although in the past it was not very transparent and did not comply with good corporate governance. But today we have made improvements," he said. Currently, he said, Bulog has been making changes to its work culture. Over the past 9 years as a Perum, its work culture is not limited to public servants only, but also entrepreneurial concerns due to market competition. While awaiting assignment from the government, Bulog has begun to establish communications with a variety of related organizations including small exporting states. "We’ve established communications with the Cooperative Group of Tofu Tempeh Producers of Indonesia (Kopti). We’ve also formed lines of communication with small exporters like Myanmar," he said. He reiterated that the revitalization of Bulog would not be possible this year because imports can take up to 3 months. "Besides, the soybeans already have permanent importers with a strong network both domestically and internationally. If all of a sudden we enter the arena, will no one be pressured?" he asked. ROSALINA