House Of Representatives Commission VI: Retailers Can Sell 3 Kilograms Of LPG Can Reduce Public Panic

Photo: Doc. Antara

JAKARTA - Member of Commission VI of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Rivqy Abdul Halim, appreciated the instructions of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto to reactivate retailers selling 3 kg LPG as a swift step to suppress public panic in getting the LPG.

"President Prabowo's instruction is a swift step because he does not want to let people drag on experiencing difficulties in getting three kilograms of melon gas which is the main need," Rivqy said in a written statement, quoted by Antara, Wednesday, February 5.

However, he gave notes to PT Pertamina and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) to fix the 3 kg LPG problem with extra caution.

Because, he said, the impact of the "gas melon" policy could spread to several other factors. For example, the occurrence of panic buying in the community can be used by naughty parties to hoard 3 kg of LPG, then resold at an expensive price.

"Policies that were originally intended to benefit by trying to ensure subsidies were right on target, what happened was the end of causing trouble to the community and could affect the prices of other people's needs," he said.

He also asked the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and PT Pertamina in the future to pay attention to the fulfillment of access and consumer needs in formulating a 3 kg LPG improvement policy.

"Please fix the problem of three kilograms of melon gas by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and PT Pertamina not to ignore consumer rights or make access and fulfill the need for gas difficult," he said.

As for now, he assesses that the main focus that needs to be done is to return the distribution of LPG 3 to three kg to normal in the market, as well as closely monitor so that the gas is not sold beyond the highest retail price (HET).

"While preparing the retail, it becomes sub-baseline," he said.

Previously, Tuesday, February 4, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto instructed the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia to reactivate retailers selling 3 kg LPG.

This was conveyed by the Deputy Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, after communicating with the President on Monday night, February 3, regarding the change in the distribution pattern of gas subsidies of 3 kg or "gas melon".

"After communicating with the President, the President then instructed ESDM to as of today, reactivate existing retailers to sell as usual," Dasco told reporters before attending the Plenary Meeting at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta.

The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources together with Pertamina then carried out governance of 3 kg LPG retailers whose status has now been changed to sub-baseline so that they can return to selling the household's needs.

Sub-base is considered a solution to regulate the distribution of 3 kg LPG which can be sold at the right price to the community according to the provision of subsidies from the Government.

The policy was taken after previously the regulation regarding the prohibition of retailers from selling 3 kg LPG was enforced and the sale of the gas could only be carried out at the base on February 1, 2025.