Trade Minister Budi Reveals The Cause Of Our Minya Kita's Mahal: Distributor's Action To Increase Prices At The Retail Level

Photo: Doc. Antara

JAKARTA - Minister of Trade (Mendag) Budi Santoso conveyed that the increase in the price of people's cooking oil or Minya Kita was caused by distributors who raised prices at the retail level.

Budi Santoso di Tangerang, Banten, Jumat, 24 Januari, mengatakan Kementerian Perdagangan (Kemendag) mulai melakukan operasi terhadap distributor-distributor MinyaKita di seluruh Indonesia, khususnya pada wilayah dengan harga MinyaKita yang tinggi atau di atas harga retail tertinggi (HET) Rp15,700 per liter.

According to Budi, there are allegations that distributors have raised prices at the retail level, so that the price soars when it reaches consumers.

"Well, starting from Banten, yes, it turns out that we found warehouses selling or distributors selling the price that should have been Rp. 14,500 sold to Rp. 15,500 (price at retail level) yes. Even though the price of HET to consumers is Rp. 15,700, so the price goes up for the Banten area," said Budi, quoted by Antara.

He explained that the supply of Minya Kita from producers did not experience problems and distribution according to the rules. However, the price of the people's cooking oil has not decreased.

Furthermore, allegations related to price games at the distributor level 2 (D2) are likely to occur in other areas. Therefore, the Trade Minister will conduct checks in West Kalimantan, East Nusa Tenggara, and other eastern parts of Indonesia.

"Most of them are from friends of the Food Task Force in the field, indeed in terms of prices, raising prices. Because all of the goods are there, we have all said to the producers that there are sufficient goods," said the Trade Minister.

The national average Minya Kita price is IDR 17,000 per liter, while the HET set by the government is IDR 15,700 per liter.

Previously reported, the Minister of Trade (Mendag) Budi Santoso sealed PT Navyta Nabati Indonesia (NNI) for alleged violations related to the distribution of people's cooking oil or Oilita, in Tangerang, Banten, Friday.

Budi said that based on the results of supervision carried out by the Food Task Force, the company had expired for the Certification of Products for the Use of the Indonesian National Standard Sign (SPPT SNI), but still produced Minya Kita.

"He does not have a distribution permit from the POM for MinyaKita, but is still producing Minya Kita. Then he does not have KBLI (Business Field Standard Classification) 82920 or packing activities as a mandatory requirement for cooking oil repackers," said Budi.

Furthermore, the company is also suspected of falsifying the distribution permit recommendation letter as if it was issued by the Ministry of Trade (Kemendag).

In addition, NNI, which in this case as a repacker or Distributor 2 (D2) has produced Oilita using non-domestic market obligation (DMO) cooking oil, as well as producing MinyaKita which is allegedly not in accordance with the size stated in the packaging, which is less than 1 liter.

From the results of this exposure, 7,800 bottles of MinyaKita and 275 boxes of MinyaKita were found, with one box containing 12 bottles of oil measuring 1 liter.