Mahfud MD Singgung Jokowi Hobby Of Importing Food Commodities, TKN Prabowo-Gibran: Natural Problems

Deputy Chairperson Of TKN Prabowo-Gibran, Eddy Soeparno/PHOTO: Nailin In Saroh-VOI

JAKARTA - Deputy Chairman of the Prabowo-Gibran National Campaign Team (TKN), Eddy Soeparno, responded to Mahfud MD who offended President Joko Widodo as an import hobby in several food commodities. Eddy said imports had to be done due to natural problems.

"First, we feel that after COVID-19 imports automatically increase because when COVID-19 economic activity slows down, consumption also decreases somewhat. After that, there is not only a surge in consumption but we are also faced with El Nino. Extreme weather throughout Asia, some even reach 40 degrees," said Eddy in Kertanegara, Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, Monday, January 22.

"What does that mean? Harvesting in all countries affected by El Nino is bad, including Indonesia. Including countries to export food to Indonesia, rice, soybeans, corn and others," he continued.

The member of Commission VII of the DPR emphasized that because the harvest is bad, it is undeniable that Indonesia and countries that have also had sufficient resilience, have had to import.

"What is a lesson for us is how to reduce dependence on imports," said Eddy.

"So in my opinion, it is not due to the government's failure that there is an increase in exports but indeed a natural problem that we cannot avoid and that happens throughout Asia," he added.

In addition to natural problems, the Secretary General of PAN also reminded about changes in the diet of Indonesians. If in the past only ate rice, but now many people have eaten bread, even wheat.

"In the past, we ate a lot of rice, now we have started eating a lot of bread. Cake shops are everywhere, bakeries are everywhere. So the import of wheat is also high in this regard. Well, I think this is also a lesson for us," concluded Eddy.

Previously, vice presidential candidate number 3, Mahfud MD revealed that the government is still importing food. In fact, he said, President Joko Widodo during the 2019 presidential candidate debate was committed to closing the food import tap meeting.

"Mas Gibran, I respect you as a vice presidential candidate so I will not ask questions in traps or in installments. On February 17, 2019 in a presidential candidate debate, Pak Prabowo said Pak Jokowi would not import food commodities if he was later elected president," said Mahfud when starting the vice presidential debate, Sunday, January 21.

"It turns out that Pak Prabowo said, 4 years of leading Pak Jokowi is still importing and detrimental to farmers, it can be checked that Mr. Prabowo's question to Pak Jokowi at that time, Mr. Jokowi said he would not import. But until now we still have a lot of imports, even more mafia food, "he added.