Expensive Rice Prices, KPPU Intervenes To Form Investigation Team

The Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) has formed a special team to investigate the cause of the sharp rising rice price in the market today.

KPPU Member Commissioner Hilman Pujana said his party had formed a special investigation team consisting of a study team and a law enforcement team.

"Of course, why do we form a kind of special team, of course, we have also seen things that 'oh, this KPPU team needs to come down' to see these sectors," he said at the KPPU Office, Central Jakarta, Wednesday, February 28.

Furthermore, Hilman explained, the team will conduct an in-depth investigation based on the movement of rice prices in the market.

The goal is to find a point of problem that causes rice prices to soar and the lack of supply at the consumer level.

"For example, whether there are distribution blockages or not. If the context is distribution blockage, we have to see this," he said.

"Is this done sporadically, each or indeed there is communication between business actors on this distribution channel," he continued.

Hilman said, if later indications of violations are found, both at the producer or distributor level, the KPPU will conduct further investigation.

Tertuma mengenai dugaan adanya komunikasi atau kesepakatan antara pengusaha.

"Later, we will of course comply with the KPPU's duties and functions, namely law enforcement, of course we will follow up on the findings," he said.