No Ministers Report Rice Price Update, Jokowi Disappointed
16 March 2015 11:40 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) reportedly was disappointed because after the market operations and the distribution of rice for the poor three weeks ago, he has not received any reports about the development of rice price from related ministers and Head of the State Logistics Agency (Bulog).
In the meantime, Trade Minister Rachmat Gobel said that only he, Head of the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) and Agriculture Minister, who are authorized to report the price of rice.
However, Gobel said none of the three officials reported the development of rice price after the market operation was conducted by the government three weeks ago.
"There was no update. Then the President checked it by himself,” Gobel said after a limited cabinet meeting at Bogor Palace, Sunday evening, March 15, 2015.
He also denied issue that President Jokowi was angry because there were reports from his ministers.
"The President is not angry. He only asked why there are no updates on the development of rice price yet,” Gobel said.
Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister for the Economy Sofyan Djalil said that President Jokowi was very ‘sensitive’ about the development of rice price. Jokowi, Sofyan said, wanted to know the price of rice every day and when the price of rice increases, Sofyan said, Jokowi usually receives reports.
"But we forget to give him reports when the price drops,” he said, adding that from now on the three of them are going to report it regularly.
MUHAMMAD MUHYIDDIN
