YLKI: Fertility To Increase BBM Prices Like 'Simalakama Fruit'

Chairman of the Daily Management of the Indonesian Consumer Foundation (YLKI) Tulus Abadi. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Chairman of the Daily Management of the Indonesian Consumer Institution (YLKI) Tulus Abadi assessed that the policy taken by the government was to increase the price of fuel oil (BBM) like a simalakama fruit.

If not increased, it will have an impact on the state budget (APBN).

"The policy of increasing fuel prices like simalakama fruit. It has not been increased, the finances of the state budget are getting worse and will sacrifice other sectors. If increased, the potential for domino effects is very large," he said in an official statement quoted on Sunday, September 4.

Furthermore, Tulus explained, the domino effect in question is the potential to hit people's purchasing power or consumers.

This condition is marked by high inflation. Therefore, Tulus asked the government to guarantee that the supply chain of food commodities was not significantly affected after the increase in fuel prices.

He also reminded that distribution channels should be simplified and launched.

That way, said Tulus, it does not become a cover to increase food prices.

"Don't make the increase in fuel prices for aji while increasing food commodities, and other commodities," he said.

Tulus juga meminta pemerintah pusat dan pemerintah daerah harus tetap memberikan subsidi pada transportasi umum, atau insentif lainnya. Sehingga pun tariff transport umum mengalami kenaikan paska kenaikan harga BBM, kenaikan tariffnya tidak terlalu tinggi.

"The high increase in public transportation will actually be counter productive for the fate of public transportation itself, because consumers will be abandoned, and move to motorbikes," he said.

In addition, said Tulus, the increase in fuel prices must be followed by efforts to reform the allocation of fuel subsidies.

This means that the recipients of the fuel subsidy are truly those who are entitled to it based on the name by address, not like it is now.

In the future, continued Tulus, the government must have anticipation regarding the price of world crude oil. For example, by preparing oil funds or some kind of 'oil cylinder fund'.

"With this fund, if the price of crude oil is falling, the difference can be stored in the oil fund. And if the price of crude oil is rising, then the price of fuel in the country must not necessarily increase," he said.

For your information, the government through the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has officially adjusted the price of Pertalite and Solar subsidized fuel subsidies.

For the new price, the government priced Pertalite which was previously Rp.7650 per liter to Rp. 10,000 per liter.

Solar subsidy, which was previously IDR 5,150 per liter, rose to IDR 6,800 per liter.

This price increase is valid for an hour since it was announced that this price adjustment was at 14.30 WIB.

This was conveyed by Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Arifin Tasrif in a press conference with President Jokowi at the Merdeka Palace, yesterday, Saturday, September 3.