Rice Mafia Accusation is Baseless, say Rice Sellers
21 February 2015 16:34 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Nelly Soekidi, the Jakarta Rice Business Owners Association chairman (Perpadi), denied the allegation of rice mafia practices alleged by Trade Minister Rachmat Gobel. Nelly told Tempo on Friday, February 20, 2015, the rice stock in the market was not enough to meet the demands and cause the price to increase.
“How can we stockpile the rice if there are no supplies?,” Nelly said.
Nelly explained that the demands for rice at Pasar Induk Cipinang could reach 2,500 to 3,000 tons per day. However, Nelly said, there is only 1,000 tons or rice available per day. Nelly urged the government to stabilize the price by increasing rice supplies, instead of blaming sellers.
Earlier, Trade Minister Rachmat Gobel said that the soaring rice price was caused by mafia practices. According to Gobel, the Logistics Agency (Bulog) had conducted an operation by supplying Pasar Cipinang with 75,000 tons of rice, sold for Rp6,800 per kilogram.
Gobel said sellers should have sold the rice for Rp7,400 per kilogram and enjoyed a profit margin of Rp600 per kilogram.
DEVY ERNIS
