Many Mafias, The Food Agency Gandeng TNI AL Participated In The Distribution Of Bulog Rice

Illustration (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The National Food Agency (Bapanas) or NFA cooperates with the Navy (AL) to distribute food commodities.

Especially Bulog rice for the Supply Stabilization and Food Price (SPHP) program or market operations.

Head of Bapanas Arief Prasetyo Adi said strengthening food mobilization and distribution must continue to be encouraged, one of which is through cross-sectoral collaboration. According to Arief, NFA cannot run alone.

Arief said, cooperation with the Indonesian Navy can be started by sending basic and important food commodities to areas that need high price stabilization.

"The synergy with the Indonesian Navy in strengthening food is in line with the direction of the President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo in the 77th Anniversary of the TNI last year which requested that the TNI and Polri be united in helping in terms of food independence, considering this for the benefit of the Indonesian people," he said in an official statement, Thursday, February 16.

Therefore, said Arief, NFA is ready as a collaborator between ministries and institutions in realizing food independence according to President Jokowi's direction.

Arief said that the support and participation of the Indonesian Navy is believed to help improve food affordability, especially in the outer islands or islands.

This, continued Arief, can also affect the eradication of areas prone to food and nutrition.

Given, as a large state institution, the Indonesian Navy has a wide and equitable reach to remote areas.

Previously it was reported, the President Director of Perum Bulog, Budi Waseso, revealed that the distribution of Bulog rice had not succeeded in reducing the high price of rice in the market. This is suspected because there is a mafia that commits fraud.

The allegation of this rice mafia, said Buwas, Budi Waseso's nickname, was proven by the arrest of 7 suspects in the mixing and repackaging of Bulog rice by the Banten Regional Police Food Task Force.

For your information, the arrests of the seven people were the aftermath of Budi Waseso's report regarding the alleged existence of the rice mafia.

"What I said last week was proven today. If I look into this, it is a mafia activity," he said at a press conference at the Banten Police, West Java, Friday, February 10.

Buwas admitted that he was sure that the police would investigate the existence of this rice mafia to its roots.

"So this will be taken care of by the police, of course I am sure that the police will take care of it to where it comes from. Where the start of the violation will be investigated will definitely be investigated. For my thinking, this is if it's about food, we can't play games," he said.