JAKARTA - Minister of Agriculture (Mentan) Andi Amran Sulaiman emphasized that the government would take firm action against soybean importers who raised prices unnaturally amid the strengthening of the US dollar.
The statement was in response to the spike in soybean prices which had an impact on tofu and tempe craftsmen.
This price increase was triggered by the weakening of the rupiah exchange rate against the US dollar.
Moreover, more than 90 percent of national soybean needs depend on imports.
Amran admitted that he had summoned all soybean importers and warned them not to take advantage of this situation to make excessive profits.
"We have told all soybean importers, if you increase it arbitrarily, I will revoke your permit," he told reporters, writing Wednesday, May 20.
Amran ensured that the government would keep the price of soybeans under control so that the price of tofu and tempe would not jump sharply, even though the dollar exchange rate was strengthening.
In addition, Amran also touched on the still existing food mafia practice which was considered to have also triggered a spike in the price of a number of commodities in Indonesia.
For example, continued Amran, the increase in the price of cooking oil which was considered not to have occurred considering that Indonesia is the largest palm oil producer in the world.
"Cooking oil alone can rise, even though we are the world's largest exporter. Therefore, I have asked the task force to take action," he said.
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