Trade Minister Zulhas To Rawamangun Market Traders: Take Profit Is OK, But Don't Overdo It

Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan. (Photo: Doc. Ministry of Trade)

JAKARTA - Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan emphasized that ahead of Eid, the price of basic necessities (bapok) in the people's market was monitored to be stable and supply was sufficient.

This was conveyed by Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan while reviewing the prices and supply of bapok at Rawamangun Market, East Jakarta, Jakarta on Monday, April 3.

Zulhas, as Zulkifli Hasan is familiarly called, appealed to traders to follow the benchmark price and not to make excessive profits and not to hoard stocks.

The price of bapok in Rawamangun Market is stable and the stock is large. Hopefully until Lebaran like this. I remind traders to take profit, but don't overdo it," he said.

Furthermore, Zulhas said, the stakeholders must follow the predetermined benchmark price, otherwise the Food Task Force (Satgas) will continue to monitor and will take action against traders who hoard and increase the price of bapok excessively.

"Traders must follow the benchmark prices set by Bapanas and Bulog. I also remind traders not to over-profit by raising prices arbitrarily and hoarding stocks," he said.

Zulhas explained that the increase in bapok prices was still at a reasonable level due to the increase in demand.

"The 5 percent increase is still reasonable, but if it's too much, of course the Food Task Force will go down," he said.

Based on observations, the price of medium rice was recorded at IDR 10,500 per kg, premium rice IDR 13,000 per kg, sugar IDR 14,000 per kg, wheat flour IDR 14,000 per kg, premium packaged cooking oil IDR 20,000 per liter, cooking oil Oil Oil IDR 14,000 per liter, chicken meat IDR 35,000 per kg.

Then, chicken eggs Rp. 30,000 per kg, beef Rp. 140,000 per kg, curly red chilies Rp. 45,000 per kg, large red chilies Rp. 55,000 per kg, red cayenne pepper Rp. 60,000 per kg, shallots Rp. 45,000 per kg, and garlic Rp. 40,000 per kg.

Present at this activity were the Head of the National Food Agency Arief Prasetyo, the President Director of Pasar Jaya Arief Nasrudin, the Director of Supply Chain and Public Service Bulog Mokhamad Suyamto, representatives of the Criminal Investigation Unit of the Police, as well as representatives of the Jakarta Province Trade and Industry Office. Also accompanying the Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan, namely the Acting Director General of Domestic Trade Kasan.