Not All Regions Have Set One Price IDR 14,000/liter For Cooking Oil, In Kendari It's Actually IDR 22 Thousand

The condition of a special cooking oil outlet in a shopping center in Depok (Photo: Moksa Hutasoit)

JAKARTA - The government's intention to impose one price per liter for cooking oil of IDR 14,000 has not been evenly distributed. The price of cooking oil in several main markets as well as traditional markets in Kendari City, Southeast Sulawesi (Sultra) is still varying at more than IDR 20,000 per liter.

Reported from Antara, Sunday, January 23, at Baruga market and Mandonga Basah market on Sunday, traders still sell between IDR 20,000 to IDR 22,000 per liter for branded cooking oil, while bulk cooking oil is between IDR 16,000 to IDR 17,000 per liter.

"The sale of cooking oil is above the government's stipulation, because it is an old stock that we sell. If I sell it below IDR 20,000, we will lose," said Ruslan (42), one of the local basic food traders.

He said that although his party was aware of the government's policy regarding the price of cooking oil of IDR 14,000 per liter, they still set a price above IDR 20,000 for branded cooking oil.

"After the stock of the old purchases was reduced, of course, we immediately adjusted to the price reduction set by the government, which was IDR 14,000 per liter," said Asnia, another basic food trader.

Kendari Mayor Sulkarnain Kadir appealed to the public not to panic or compete to buy cooking oil at a price of IDR 14,000 per liter which is equivalent to nationally.

"People don't need to buy packaged cooking oil in excess, because it's the government's job to stabilize prices and provide stock in case of excessive price fluctuations," he said.

He said that as long as cooking oil was available, his party would not question it, especially since the price of IDR 14,000 per liter was the policy of the central government.

To ensure that the price of cooking oil remains stable, in a short time we will conduct market operations with a number of parties, such as the city's trade office, including coordinating with a number of basic food distributors in this city.