TEMPO.CO, Jakarta-The Speaker of the House of Representatives Ade Komarudin considered that the government must reinstate the role of the state logistics agency (Bulog) as the stabilizer of price, quality, and national food reserve in the wake of staple food price hike during Ramadan.
“I have officially conveyed the issue that we should get Bulog back to basics as a logistics agency,” Ade said at Agung Laksono’s private residence during a gathering of iftaar in Cipinang Cempedak, East Jakarta, Sunday, June 12, 2016.
Ade said he has visited a number of regions to monitor beef price. Many vendors set the price at Rp85,000, having bought it at Rp80,000. “Vendors should be allowed to make Rp5,000 [margin], but it’s frozen beef [price],” he said. However, people are more interested in buying fresh beef for Rp130,000.
Nevertheless, Ade believed that the government is capable of maintaining food stock during Ramadan and ahead of Eid al-Fitri. Food issue should be resolved sistematically. “We have to return the function of Bulog.”
President Joko Widodo hoped that Indonesia can emulate other countries that offer food price discounts ahead of public holidays. “We always see price hike ahead of Eid al-Fitr. [Instead,] we want to see discounts [ahead] of Eid al-Fitr,” Jokowi said recently.
ARKEHLAUS W.
