Trade Minister Lutfi Promises To Work Half-dead To Help Eradicate The Cooking Oil Mafia

Minister of Trade, M. Lutfi. (Photo: Doc. Ministry of Trade)

JAKARTA - The Minister of Trade (Mendag) Muhammad Lutfi revealed that there are mafias and parties who seek profit in the narrowness behind the scarcity and high cost of cooking oil. However, he admitted that he did not have the authority to take action against the parties involved.

The reason, said Lutfi, is that this issue is outside the authority of the Ministry of Trade. Because, hindered by regulations or rules. He explained that Law Number 7 of 2014 concerning Trade and Law Number 8 of 1999 concerning Consumer Protection were not strong enough to eradicate these mafias.

"I said that I cannot arrest these people based on what I have. So there must be a policy against naughty criminals. And that is outside the authority of the Ministry of Trade," he said in a Working Meeting with Commission VI DPR, quoted Friday, March 18.

The Ministry of Trade, said Lutfi, admitted that he could not work alone against the mafia and speculators. Therefore, his party has provided the data to the National Police and the Food Task Force.

For this, Lutfi apologized because the Ministry of Trade could not eradicate the cooking oil mafia. However, this will certainly be used as a lesson.

"This is a lesson that we can learn here is when the price is different against the market that is so high," said Lutfi.

"With an apology, the Ministry of Commerce cannot control it. Because this is human nature, which is greedy and evil," he concluded.

The government doesn't give up

Lutfi emphasized that the government will not give up on eradicating the food mafia to fight for the availability of cooking oil at a low price through a subsidy mechanism.

"I make sure I will not give in to the mafia, speculators, especially in a state of high prices. I promise, I will work hard to ensure good justice occurs," he said.

As previously reported, Lutfi said that there was already a cooking oil hoarder who would be named a suspect. The determination of the suspect candidates will be announced on Monday, March 21 by the police.

"I leave it to the police so they can decide the legal process. On Monday there will be potential suspects," he said.

Furthermore, Lutfi explained that the hoarding mechanism was carried out by escaping subsidies to upper-middle industries. Then, subsidized bulk cooking oil is repackaged into premium cooking oil, and subsidized bulk cooking oil is transported abroad.

"There are three targets that will be set on Monday (23 March). All three of them will have potential suspects on Monday. The police will announce them on Monday," said the Trade Minister.