Minister Of Agriculture Amran Raises Statement Reprimanded By Vice President About Eradicating Food Mafia

JAKARTA - Minister of Agriculture (Mentan) Andi Amran Sulaiman straightened out the information circulating regarding the video of his viral speech, namely when he said that he had been reprimanded by the vice president regarding the eradication of the food mafia.

Amran said the experience occurred in the past, not in the context of Vice President (Wapres) Gibran Rakabuming Raka.

"I need to clarify, the warning happened first, not from the current vice president. And I used to consider it a very positive warning. That actually made me more careful and more courageous in eradicating the food mafia," said the Minister of Agriculture in a confirmed statement in Jakarta, Sunday, April 20, which was confiscated by Antara.

Minister of Agriculture Amran emphasized that Vice President Gibran actually provided full support for the steps to eradicate the food mafia and corruption currently being intensified by the Ministry of Agriculture.

"Mr. Gibran is very supportive. The President and vice president solidly support us to clean up food and defend farmers," he added.

The Minister of Agriculture explained that he conveyed the statement in the video in the academic context as a reflection of past experiences in fighting for national food security.

"I want to show that in dealing with the food mafia, we must be brave, and that courage must be accompanied by support from our leaders. And so far, I have received full support from the presidents and vice presidents, including President Prabowo and Vice President Gibran today," he said.

He revealed that the results of the commitment to eradicate the food mafia carried out by the president and vice president gave significant results at the Ministry of Agriculture.

During the previous period, 784 food mafia cases were successfully uncovered, with 411 people named as suspects.

These cases include violations related to fertilizers, horticulture, livestock, to fraudulent practices in rice distribution.

"Even within the Ministry of Agriculture, we have affected more than 1,500 employees (given sanctions) for demotion and transfer due to disciplinary and integrity violations. This is a clean movement that we carry out indiscriminately," he said.

In the first 130 days of the Red and White Cabinet, under the leadership of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the Ministry of Agriculture continued to take firm steps, namely 20 people were named suspects and 50 companies were being prosecuted for harming the state and farmers.

Amran reminded that no party should take advantage of the video clip to break the government's solidarity.

"I emphasize, don't try to fight against me with the vice president. All the presidents and vice presidents I have accompanied, including Vice President Gibran, have the same spirit to clean up the food mafia and defend farmers," he said.

He also gave strong warnings to mafia players and their sympathizers so as not to interfere with the stability of national food security.

"Currently the road to self-sufficiency is bright. Don't you mafias and sympathizers pit each other. We are perpendicular to the president and vice president. We are solid for Indonesia's sovereignty and food security," said the Minister of Agriculture.

The Minister of Agriculture said that the Ministry of Agriculture will continue to strengthen cooperation with the KPK, the police, and the prosecutor's office in cleaning up food mafia practices and enforcing pro-farm policies in a sustainable manner throughout the country.