Government Admits 'Loss' Against Migor Mafia, PKS: Enough Achievement, May 3 Periods As Long As Not Shame

Jokowi checks the availability of cooking oil at a traditional market in the Yogyakarta area on March 13. (Presidential Secretariat Youtube)

JAKARTA - Deputy Chairman of the PKS Faction DPR Mulyanto appreciates the honest attitude of the Minister of Trade (Mendag) Muhammad Lutfi who admits that he is powerless to face the cooking oil mafia in the country.

As a result of the uncontrolled cooking oil mafia, the price of the food skyrocketed.

"The government honestly admits that it has lost against the migrant mafia [cooking oil]. So the HET for Bulk Migration has been increased and packaged migraines have been removed from the market mechanism," he said via his Twitter account @pakmul63, Thursday, March 18.

Mulyanto then quipped at the ranks of President Jokowi's ministers who continue to voice the postponement of the general election (election) so that the term of office of the head of state becomes longer.

According to him, the government's incompetence can be used as another reason for the public to agree to extend the presidential term to three terms.

"Sufficiently accomplished. So you can have 3 periods (as long as you are not ashamed)," he continued.

The rise in cooking oil was caused by the Minister of Trade Lutfi revoking the policy for the highest retail price (HET) for cooking oil. The latest highs retail cooking oil prices took effect on Wednesday 16 March.

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said that now the price of cooking oil such as simple and premium packaging can adjust to the economic value.

This was done after the government lifted packaged cooking oil subsidies. This is done to make cooking oil easy to find in modern and traditional markets.

"For that, the Chief of Police will guarantee the availability and smooth supply of supplies," said Airlangga, Wednesday, March 16.

However, Airlangga said the government would distribute subsidies for bulk cooking oil so that the price would be Rp. 14,000 per liter. "The government has decided that it will subsidize bulk palm oil at Rp. 14,000 per liter and the subsidy will be based on funds from BPDP-KS," he said.