JAKARTA - Chairman of Commission IV DPR RI Titiek Soeharto emphasized that there is no tolerance for any party who tries to import rice into Indonesia.
The Titiek statement responded to the findings of 250 tons of rice from Thailand that entered through Sabang and is currently being handled by the government.
In a meeting with the Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman, said Titiek, his party had asked directly about the case. According to him, the government already has a clear policy that Indonesia will no longer open the tap for rice imports.
"We also asked the Minister about 250 tons of rice imports from Thailand. This has been announced by the government that there are no rice imports, we are already self-sufficiency in rice," he told reporters, in Jakarta, Monday, November 24.
Therefore, Titiek warned that no party should try to play with the policy
"So whoever wants to try to import rice, we ask that it be prosecuted. Because this is the government's discretion, there is no import and we are self-sufficiency. Don't try anything," he said.
Previously, Minister of Agriculture (Mentan) Andi Amran Sulaiman revealed the cause of the entry of 250 tons of rice imports in Sabang. He said, Sabang has a Free Trade Zone (FTZ).
Amran emphasized that the imports carried out must be in line with the policies of the central government. Moreover, said Amran, President Prabowo Subianto has also determined that Indonesia will no longer import rice.
"So, there is the Sabang area. There is a regulation, one of the market regulations is the Free Trade Zone. But it must be considered, it should not conflict with central policies. Meanwhile, the President has said that he has been self-sufficient this year, not imported. Stock is more than sufficient," he said at the DPR Building, Jakarta, Monday, November 24.
Furthermore, Amran estimates that this mode of importation is carried out in order to seek profit only because the current price of world rice has dropped significantly.
BACA JUGA:
"The goal is to make a profit. Why are you looking for profit? Because abroad the price fell again, used to be 650 US dollars per ton, now 340 US dollars per ton, almost half," said Amran.
"Why? Because Indonesia is not imported. So, Indonesia makes the price of other countries cheap. Why? Our imports are two consecutive years 7 million tons," he continued.
In fact, Amran revealed, currently many countries are negotiating with the government to add rice to Indonesia.
"In fact, we are in the lobby to accept imports from neighboring countries. Including him conveying it to the President. But we are determined to be self-sufficient in rice," he said.
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