Government Wants To Import Salt, Member Of DPR PPP Faction: PT. Garam Does Not Perform Its Duties Maximally

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The government plans to reopen salt imports in 2021, continuing the import habit from previous years. Member of Commission IV of the House of Representative, Ema Umiyyatul Chusnah said this step was a concrete form of the government's failure to increase the potential for national salt.

In fact, said Ema, Indonesia has a coastline of 95,181 kilometers (km) and is the second-longest coastline in the world. However, apparently, it cannot be used to meet domestic salt needs.

"And (the government) chooses to import salt to countries with coastlines that are much shorter than this country," he said, in a written statement received by VOI, Monday, March 15.

Ema said that the relevant ministries such as the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) should be able to cooperate with other ministries such as the State-Owned Enterprises Ministry to maximize state-owned companies in the food sector to increase salt production.

"However, currently there seems to be no coordination which makes Indonesia's potential to fulfill its own salt needs not being realized. In 2019 and 2020, the government imported 2.75 million tons and 2.92 million tons of salt. And this number does not appear to be much different in this year," he explained.

Ema said that it is not only the amount that is the problem of national salt production, but also the quality which is considered to be still below standard so that it is one of the reasons for imports. A problem that has been going on for years should have found a solution.

"Related SOEs, such as PT. Garam clearly has to carry out its functions optimally. But unfortunately, the performance of PT. Garam is not optimal and even below standard. In fact, many of its assets are not maximized properly," he said.

Previously, Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) Sakti Wahyu Trenggono said that the issue of salt imports had been decided in a meeting of the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment some time ago.

"The salt import has been decided through a meeting of the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment," said Minister Trenggono in Indramayu, Sunday, March 14.

Currently, Trenggono said, the government is still waiting for data related to salt demand in Indonesia because when a shortage is found, it will be imported.

According to Trenggono, salt imports are also carried out in accordance with the trade balance, so that domestic salt needs can be met.

"For example, how many shortcomings can it be imported, we are waiting for it. Because it is included in the work copyright law," he said.