People's Basic Needs Including Rare Cooking Oil, KPK Is Ready To Step In

JAKARTA - Chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Firli Bahuri said he was ready to intervene to overcome the scarcity of basic commodities needed by the community. He highlighted a number of items, including cooking oil and soybeans that had disappeared from the market.

"I suggest that in the near future maybe we need to discuss the trade system for basic commodities, including horticulture and other imported materials. This includes we want to save the people's needs, whether it be cooking oil, onions, whether it's meat, including soybeans and rice," he said. Firli was quoted as saying from the Coordinating Ministry for Marves' YouTube, Tuesday, March 8.

Firli said this offer was submitted as a form of carrying out the duties of the KPK. Where this institution, he continued, must ensure the improvement of the system, especially to meet the needs of the people.

Moreover, the KPK has discussed the improvement of the basic goods system with the Minister of Trade and the Minister of Agriculture. Thus, Firli hopes that the anti-corruption commission can assist the government in seeking to fulfill basic needs.

"I think some time ago, we discussed it with the Minister of Trade and the Minister of Agriculture. So, in the near future, we would like to please the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, our Coordinating Minister for the Economy, we can close ranks," he said.

"So that we are safe from the scarcity of needs and we guarantee the sufficiency and availability of materials needed by the community can be met," added Firli.

As previously reported, the Inspector General of the Ministry of Trade Didid Noordiatmoko explained that currently cooking oil production is approaching demand, so the shortage of this product should be resolved no later than the end of March 2022.

However, Didid said, a new problem arose which was the impact of rising prices and scarcity of goods, namely panic buying. This happens because the price of cooking oil is affordable, which makes people buy more than they need.

In fact, said Didid, research results show that the need for cooking oil per person is only 0.8 to one liter per month. So with these results, many households are stocking cooking oil.