Fuel Prices Rise, Head Of BIN Budi Gunawan Invites People To Adapt Lifestyle

JAKARTA - Head of the State Intelligence Agency (BIN) General (Ret.) Budi Gunawan invites people in the country to adapt or adjusts their lifestyle as the price of Pertamax fuel oil (BBM) increases.

"The most substantive solution for the community facing the economic conditions that lead to this stagflation is to adapt their lifestyle to their respective real capabilities", said Head of BIN, General (Ret.) Budi Gunawan, in a written statement received in Jakarta, reported by Antara, Monday, April 4.

According to Budi, this solution is not only good for each individual but also the nation because it re-cultures the values of old wisdom which were almost lost due to the pressure of consumerism culture.

For example, everyone can use a bicycle or walk to replace transportation to a distance that is not too far away. Besides saving costs, it is also good for health, said Budi.

Adaptation, according to him, is the best choice when facing external factors of fuel prices. If you continue to impose low prices (mitigation), it is not only futile, it is also a risk because it will drain Pertamina, and it is easy for interest groups to carry on board to create restlessness and even social unrest.

The government is also trying so that the current price increases do not hurt the people. In addition, efforts are also made to ensure availability, make better fuel planning, and issue regulations so that the wealthy do not switch to using subsidized fuel.

Not only that, in the adaptation decision-making process, the government also pays attention to the fate of low-income people. Therefore, the fuel that has gone up is Pertamax (Non-Subsidized Gasoline RON 92), or the type that has been consumed by the upper-middle class, he said.

Nevertheless, Budi admits that the increase will still have an indirect impact on people's cost of living. Mainly because it accumulates with increases in other commodities.

"Therefore, the price adaptation option that has been chosen by the government should be followed by lifestyle adaptation by the community", he said.

In general, the increase in the price of Pertamax fuel as of April 1, 2022, is a step from the government to deal with a spike in world oil prices above 100 US dollars per barrel due to the Russia-Ukraine crisis.

Head of the State Intelligence Agency (BIN) General Police (Purn) Budi Gunawan. ANTARA/HO-Humas BIN/am.