Prices Of Fuel Rising, Megawati: If Not, What Will Be More Difficult In The Future?

Megawati Soekarnoputri/DOK ISTIMEWA

JAKARTA - Chairperson of the PDI Perjuangan (PDI-P), Megawati Soekarnoputri, asked the public to understand President Joko Widodo (Jokowi)'s decision to reduce the number of subsidies that increased the price of fuel oil (BBM).

The government is said to be unable to maintain the old prices with current conditions. In fact, the Minister of Finance, Sri Mulyani, actually explained.

"Until the Minister of Finance herself has stepped down to explain the reason, that in fact the fuel issue if we study it well, it actually provides an opportunity. After all, we can't (maintain the old price, ed)", said Megawati in a written statement, Thursday, September 15.

"If it is not raised later, the situation will become even more difficult, so what", she continued.

The government of President Jokowi, Megawati said, also cannot simply decide on an increase in fuel prices. She understands this kind of condition is not easy but it must have been calculated.

"This is not because of the president's coincidence, Mr. Jokowi is the president who was promoted by the PDI-P. I also know that later the PDI-P business will be involved. But this situation is certainly not so easy, it's not just a random increase in fuel prices", she said.

Megawati also mentioned that this condition is often not understood by many parties. In fact, the current conditions are indeed difficult because Indonesia and the world have not yet emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic.

"So don't just reverse it, yes, that Covid is also like a consideration that is not easy, is it just released? But later (if they are released, ed), the people will also be affected, meaning that more and more people will suffer. That's right, among other considerations", she said.

"So I hope people don't always take an understanding that just divides it like that", concluded the 5th President of the Republic of Indonesia.