YLKI Urges Trade Ministry, Police to Investigate Cooking Oil Mafias

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) urged the Trade Ministry and the National Police to collaborate in investigating the practice of cooking oil mafias as one of the effective ways to stabilize prices and domestic supply of the commodity.

YLKI official Agus Suyatno encouraged the ministry to coordinate the names of the mafias that they have pocketed with the police so that they can be immediately processed by the law. Trade Minister Muhammad Luthfi previously stated that he had pocketed the names of the mafias yet he stopped short of mentioning them.

“What is the point if the Trade Minister has pocketed the names but does not follow them up,” said Agus when contacted, Monday, March 21.

Agus continued that issues surrounding one of the basic needs of the community have not been resolved for months albeit the government had issued policies on the price and supply stability.

“This must surely be followed up and sanctions must be imposed. One of the suspects must release their stock so that it can change the price of cooking oil in the market,” he added.

Agus emphasized that the government could not deal with the problems that have long affected consumers alone and needed the participation of all parties to investigate the case, including the police.

Read: Experts Criticize Lack of Government Control in Cooking Oil Scarcity, Price Hike

ARRIJAL RACHMAN