No Longer A Problem With Opening 24 Hours, Aprindo Now Asks For Tightened Gasoline Sales At Warung Madura

Chairman of the Indonesian Retail Entrepreneurs Association (Aprindo) Roy Nicholas Mandey (photo: dock. VOI)

JAKARTA - Chairman of the Indonesian Retail Entrepreneurs Association (Aprindo) Roy Nicholas Mandey opened his voice about Madura stalls which had been excited to be banned from operating 24 hours. Roy assessed that Aprindo had never questioned which party wanted to run its business.

According to him, as long as there are no specific regional regulations governing the operating hours of Madura stalls, the stalls should not be prohibited from opening 24 hours. However, Roy reminded that there are other rules that must be obeyed by all parties.

"Yes, please open 24 hours, people don't have regulations. However, what we have raised is related to government regulations, such as selling gasoline, LPG. That, right, there are rules so as not to harm the seller," he said at the Halalbihalal event at the Manado Spice, Jakarta, quoted Wednesday, May 8.

He gave an example for selling fuel at gas stations that must meet the safety aspect, one of which is the availability of fire extinguishers around the location. This is what Roy said was not fulfilled by Madura stalls.

Meanwhile, regarding the retail issue of asking Madura stalls not to open 24 hours in Bali, Roy emphasized that his party had never instructed this. Even if there is, Roy ensures that the retailer is not a member of Aprindo.

"There is a statement in Bali, a mini market prohibits Madura stalls. I checked with DPD Aprindo in Bali, there is no one, our members are the ones who forbid it. This could be someone who pits against minimarkets and Madura stalls. The polemic is indeed created, or if there is a minimarket, it is not a member of Aprindo," said Roy.

"So, Aprindo does not have a problem with Madura warung (open 24 hours) merchandise, but the problem is that the regulations in this country must be followed because we are a state of law. Every citizen is the same before the law, the government must not be discriminatory," he added.

Previously, Minister of Cooperatives and SMEs (Menkop UKM) Teten Masduki emphasized that there was no prohibition for Madura stalls and grocery stores to open 24 hours.

This was conveyed in response to the issue that had circulated that Madura stalls in Klungkung, Bali, were not allowed to open for 24 hours.

"Policies, plans or anything from the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs to limit shop hours or public-owned grocery stores, do not exist," said Coordinating Minister for SMEs Teten in a press conference at his office, Tuesday, April 30.

Teten said that his party had also checked Regional Regulation (Perda) Number 13 of 2018 concerning the Arrangement and Development of People's Markets, Shopping Centers and Supermarkets, which is said to regulate restrictions on the operating hours of Madura stalls.

Teten assessed that his party had checked the regulation and found that the regional regulation was specifically regulating the operating hours of modern retailers, not Madura stalls and people's stalls.

"So, we will also ensure that all regional regulations, both at the provincial and district/city levels, must side with MSMEs," he said.