Evidence Of Calls Not To Panic Buying Is Ineffective, Cooking Oil Of Rp. 14,000/Liter In Minimarkets In West Jakarta Is Sold Out

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The government has warned that no one will wholesale or panic buy cooking oil after it has been set at a price of Rp. 14,000 per liter. But the appeal seemed ineffective.

The proof is just look at several minimarket outlets in the West Jakarta area. There are many who run out of stock of packaged cooking oil in half a day since the government set the commodity price at Rp. 14,000 per liter.

"For the past two days the cooking oil has run out. One shift from morning to noon can run out 10 boxes," said an employee at the Alfamart Minimarket outlet in the Pal Merah area, who declined to be identified, in West Jakarta, Friday, January 21, quoted from Antara.

According to him, residents have been given an allotment of only being allowed to buy two liters of oil per person so that the cooking oil can be purchased by all residents.

However, the residents actually invited one of their families to buy the cooking oil.

"Sometimes a family comes so one by one they get it. So, people buy a lot right away," he said.

The same thing happened at several other Alfamart outlets in the West Jakarta area. Several outlets also experienced the same thing.

"So every time they put stock they run out immediately. Maybe people think this is a promo from Alfamart, actually this is from the government," explained another Alfamart employee who did not want to be named.

Corporate Affairs Director Alfamart, Solihin, spoke about the vacancy in the supply of cooking oil in this retail company owned by conglomerate Djoko Susanto. According to him, the stock in the store should be sufficient for 2 weeks if people buy properly. However, due to panic buying or excessive shopping, the supplies at the store ran out.

Solihin also appealed to the public to buy according to their needs. This is because cooking oil at a price of Rp. 14 thousand is valid for up to 6 months and the supply is guaranteed by the government. He also questioned why people buy too much cooking oil.

"The stock is sufficient. That's why the public is advised not to panic. Don't panic. What do you want to fry, buy a lot. Once again, I make sure the stock is sufficient as long as people don't over-buy. ," he told VOI, Thursday, January 20.