Cooking Oil Prices Still Diverse, DPR Asks Food Task Force To Come Down To The Field

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JAKARTA - Commission VI of the House of Representatives asked the Food Task Force to immediately intervene to control the price of cooking oil, which is still diverse in the market. It is known that the price of cooking oil has continued to climb recently to reach Rp. 23,000 per liter, even though the price set by the government is the most expensive at Rp. 14,000 per liter. Chairman of Commission VI of the House of Representatives, Faisol Riza, believes that strict supervision needs to be carried out so that there are no gaps for people who want to cheat in the field.

"We will wait until next week. I think it is necessary for the Food Task Force to go to the field in order to control the different prices of cooking oil," said Faisol, Monday, February 7. "If they go down, I think the community will be calmer and sellers can also be asked to uniform prices," he continued.

The PKB politician also considered that there needed to be a shock from the authorities against the traders in order to adjust the price of cooking oil. Faisol said that the government actually expects the adjustment of cooking oil prices to be uniform in the market, but supervision needs to be carried out, especially at vulnerable points for those who are trying to make a profit.

"Actually, the government hopes that it will work naturally, so if there is a provision from the government to uniform the price, it is hoped that the market price will match," he said. "But it may still need a bit tighter supervision at some points who may or are suspected of trying to take advantage of this loophole to take advantage," said Faisol Riza. Previously, the Head of the Food Task Force (Kasatgas) Inspector General Helmy Santika claimed there were no cartels or games in the incident. the. Helmy explained that the increase in cooking oil prices was solely due to the increase in international Crude Palm Oil (CPO) prices.

"Currently no cartels or price games have been found, the price increase is more due to market mechanisms and the increase in international CPO prices," Helmy said when contacted, Wednesday, February 2. Trade Order (PKTN) of the Ministry of Trade of the Republic of Indonesia and the Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU), to conduct field monitoring.

He said that after conducting an investigation, it was discovered that the increase in cooking oil prices was due to market mechanisms. This mechanism occurs in the main ingredient of cooking oil, namely CPO.

"The market exchange is in Rooterdam, the price of CPO has increased quite large more than 100 percent from the price of 550 - 600 USD/MT, to 1,300 - 1,500 USD/MT, this is the main factor for the increase in cooking oil prices," he said.