Minister Susi, Fishermen Argue over Fuel Price Hike
2 November 2014 10:42 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Marine and Fishery minister Susi Pudjiastuti expressed her disagreement with fishermen during a dialogue in Pangandaran, West Java, on Saturday, November 1, 2014, over subsidized fuel prices.
Indonesian Fishermen Association (HNSI) chairman Dedi Mulyadi asked the government to provide fishermen with special dispensation over fuel price hike. A fishermen representative from Indramayu, West Java, said that fuel price hike would not be a problem as long as the government can ensure fuel availability for fishermen.
In responding to the aspiration, Susi said fuel subsidy had missed its intended targets, including fishermen. Susi called on fishermen not the concerned with fuel price hike.
“If the government stops fuel subsidy, the Marine and Fishery Ministry has Rp11 trillion (US$915 million) to compensate it,” Susi said.
The fuel subsidy, according to Susi, can be reallocated to other purposes, such as building ice factories, providing fishing tools and procuring boats.
CANDRA NUGRAHA
