Jokowi Bemoans State Ministers' Silence Amid Fuel, Cooking Oil Price Hike

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko Widodo, or Jokowi, during a plenary cabinet session aired live by the Presidential Secretariat office in Youtube, quipped about state ministers who he believes remained silent amid the increase in Pertamina fuel prices and cooking oil prices. 

The President lamented a number of state ministers he believes failed to communicate the situation with the members of the public.

“The Minister did not provide an explanation regarding the [increase in prices of Pertamax]. Why it increased must be explained to the people, have empathy,” said the President on April 6, who highlighted the government’s sense of crisis. 

Moreover, he also lamented the lack of presence from a state minister during the rising prices of cooking oil that has lasted for the past four months. The former governor of Solo and Jakarta called for state officials to take extra caution in formulating policies. 

“There are no statements, no communication, the prices of cooking oil have risen in the past four months without any explanation why this happened,” said Jokowi.

At the end of his statement, the President called for state ministers and officials to release statements and explanations that empathizes with the people who he said are affected by the rise in prices of fuel and staple commodities. 

Read: MAKI Reports 9 Firms to KPPU over Cooking Oil Cartel

M JULNIS FIRMANSYAH