Lampung Provincial Government Hands Over Monopoly Indication Of Rice Sales To KPPU

Assistant for the Economy and Development of Lampung Province, Kusnardi, when giving information regarding food in Lampung. Bandarlampung, Friday (15/9/2023). ANTARA/Ruth Intan Sozometa Kanafi.

BANDAR LAMPUNG - Lampung Provincial Government (Pemprov) submitted a decision regarding an indication of a monopoly case on the sale price of premium rice by business actors in their area to the Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU).

"Regarding indications of monopolistic activities for premium rice prices by business actors, we leave all the decisions to the KPPU," said Lampung Province Economic and Development Assistant Kusnardi in Bandar Lampung, quoted by ANTARA, Friday, September 15.

His party has also been summoned by KPPU Lampung for questioning regarding indications of a premium rice price monopoly case sold above the highest retail price (HET) set by the government in his area some time ago.

"We have also been summoned by them (KPPU Lampung) regarding this (price monopoly indication), for tracing and decisions of those who have the right to decide, what is certain is that we will follow the existing decisions," he said.

According to him, in addition to being handed over to the KPPU for tracing cases indicating a monopoly on rice prices by distributor-level sellers, the local government is also working with the Food Task Force (Satgas) to take action against violations of the sale of food commodities in its area which risk causing losses to the community.

"For violations of food prices, we will cooperate with the Food Task Force for prosecution," he said.

Previously, the KPPU of the Lampung Region II office conducted a search related to the continuous increase in rice prices from January to September in the area. The KPPU has found that the sale of premium rice sold does not match the highest retail price (HET) set by the government.

The violation was known to have been committed by two distributors of two types of premium rice trademarks. The act of selling rice above the government HET was found in four traditional markets in Bandar Lampung City.

With this action, the Lampung KPPU immediately summoned the two distributors next week for further questioning to prevent a higher increase in rice prices in their regions.