DPR Wants Cooking Oil Price Intervention Continues

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Abdul Muhaimin Iskandar, the House of Representative's (DPR) deputy coordinator for People's Welfare (Korkesra) asked the Trade Ministry to continue intervening cooking oil prices. The government had planned for the one-price policy of Rp14,000 per liter to last for six months.

"After six months, just keep it going. Once [the price] has stabilized, let it go. If it's not stable again, intervene again. We encourage the price intervention to be continued," Muhaimin said after an unannounced inspection at Gamalama traditional market in Ternate City, North Maluku, as quoted from the official website dpr.go.id, Sunday, January 30.

According to Muhaimin, cooking oil price intervention is very helpful for the people. He said that the government's role is needed at this time to balance the prices of basic commodities.

He said all government steps related to price stability were urgently needed so that people would not experience difficulties.

The PKB politician said he understands why some traders are still selling cooking oil for more than Rp14,000 per liter. However, he was reminded traders not to mark-up prices once sales prices from producers and distributors have declined.

"Yes, that's because [merchants] bought [from distributors] to sell when the price was still high, but later at a certain time, they are not allowed to raise the price," Muhaimin said.

Read: Cooking Oil Price Fixed at Rp14,000 Starting Midnight: Minister

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