Police Corruption Task Force Investigate Cooking Oil Scarcity In South Sulawesi

Illustration/Photo: Antara

JAKARTA - The Special Task Force for Corruption Prevention (Satgasus) for the Prevention of Corruption of the National Police is continuing its assessment, study, and analysis of the problem of scarcity and fluctuations in cooking oil prices in South Sulawesi (Sulsel), after previously carrying out similar activities in the East Java region.

The assessment activities led by former KPK senior investigator Budi Agung Nugroho, as the Head of the National Police Corruption Task Force Team began on Tuesday 29 March. This activity is in collaboration with the Ditkrimsus Polda South Sulawesi.

"This activity was carried out on the basis of the order of the National Police Chief in order to maintain the security of the supply/availability of cooking oil and its price stability in the main market ahead of the month of Ramadan and the Eid al-Fitr," said Budi, in a written statement received in Jakarta, Saturday, April 2.

In addition to studying the cooking oil problem, the National Police Corruption Eradication Task Force also checks the distribution of subsidized fertilizers in the area. The activity began with a meeting with the Provincial Government of South Sulawesi which was attended by a number of heads of related offices, producers and distributors of cooking oil, including fertilizer companies.

Budi explained that at the meeting his party asked for data and information related to the need for cooking oil consumption, the allocation of subsidized fertilizers and the availability of the number of Bapokting that could be distributed by distributors to the people in the South Sulawesi region.

“The meeting discussed the inaccuracy of data on the distribution of cooking oil. The National Police Corruption Prevention Task Force encourages related work units to correct the data in question," said Budi.

The study was continued by checking directly with distributors and sellers of packaged and bulk cooking oil as well as subsidized fertilizer warehouses in the South Sulawesi region.

Then the team continued to check the oil refineries owned by PT Sinar Mas, PT Wilmar and PT Star which are located in the Makassar Port area.

The results of checking at PT Sinar Mas obtained data, they still have 900 tons in stock as of Thursday, March 31. While PT Wilmar available 263 Tons for the same day. As for PT Star itself, the three refineries in the area are currently empty but have entered supply of approximately 2000 tons and are in a waiting position to wait in line at the port.

"The Makassar people's own need for cooking oil, according to data from the South Sulawesi Province Food Security Service, is 314 tons or 345,000 liters per day," said Budi.

Referring to the data, according to Budi, people in Makassar City and its surroundings, do not need to make excessive purchases (panic buying). Because the supply of cooking oil in the future in Makassar City will continue to be available.

"However, we are still paying attention to the pattern of public buying of bulk oil which is resold in packaging which triggers an increase in the price of cooking oil in the market," said Budi.

He emphasized that if later it was found that individuals who took advantage of the situation, the Task Force Team encouraged the public to report to the South Sulawesi Police Food Task Force.

After meeting with the South Sulawesi Provincial Government, the National Police Corruption Prevention Task Force Team continued their activities to Maros Regency to inspect Gapoktan kiosks to check the available fertilizer supply.

In the discussion, data obtained from the definitive plan for group needs (RDKK) of South Sulawesi Province amounted to 2.2 million tons of subsidized fertilizer while the realization of the allocation for South Sulawesi Province was only 500 thousand tons of subsidized fertilizer.

Budi added that this finding should be of concern to the Department of Agriculture, especially the field agricultural extension division, to provide socialization and understanding to farmers who work in farmer groups so that the distribution or distribution of subsidized fertilizers can be carried out fairly and evenly according to the amount of realization received by the area.

In this regard, the Head of the National Police Corruption Prevention Task Force Team has appealed to the community, especially farmers in the South Sulawesi region, to entrust the distribution of subsidized fertilizers to their farmer groups, so that it is hoped that there will be no more anarchic farmers in taking subsidized fertilizer rations. deviations in distribution, farmers are expected to immediately report to the Department of Agriculture or PPL in their area, "said Budi.