DPR to Summon Trade Minister over Cooking Oil Fiasco

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The House of Representatives (DPR) will again summon Trade Minister Muhammad Lutfi after Foreign Trade Director-General Wisnu Wardhana was named suspect in an alleged graft case of cooking oil, which led to the scarcity and high prices of the commodity in the country. The summons will take place albeit the DPR is still in recess. 

The Attorney General's Office (AGO) named Lutfi and three other high-ranking officials from three companies suspects in the case of alleged corruption in the provision of crude palm oil (CPO) export facilities on Tuesday, April 19.

“I have received the report. Perhaps next week before Eid, we will hold a meeting with the Trade Minister during this recess period,” said DPR Speaker Puan Maharani at the Parliament Building, Jakarta, Friday, April 22.

The DPR planned to question Lutfi with regard to the issue of cooking oil scarcity and internal problems at the ministry which caused the alleged corruption case. 

Puan asserted that the DPR supported the legal process that is still afoot. She also asked the Attorney General's Office and other law enforcement officials to investigate the winning parties involved in the export process. “Because it has caused a shortage of cooking oil, and the community has been harmed,” said the PDIP politician.

Read: DPR to Summon Trade Minister over CPO Exports, Cooking Oil Fiasco 

FAJAR PEBRIANTO