Ahead Of Christmas-New Year, The Government Must Control Commodity Prices

Photo by Devi Puspita Amartha Yahya on Unsplash

JAKARTA - Chairman of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, reminded the government to control commodity prices so as not to climb towards the end of the year. He emphasized that the need for people to increase on Christmas Day 2024 and the 2025 New Year holiday needs to be anticipated from now on.

"We urge the Government to control the prices of basic necessities to ensure that people can enjoy Christmas and New Year's Eve without worrying about rising commodity prices," said Puan Maharani, Friday, December 6.

One of the highlights of Puan is the price of people's cooking oil or Minya Kita, which has recently been complained of by the public because it shot up high from the highest retail price (HET).

"We appreciate the Government's efforts in overcoming the issue of the increase in people's cooking oil prices, but it must also ensure that our Minya Kita's supply is evenly distributed throughout the region, even to the 3TP area (lagging behind, leading, outermost and bordering)," he said.

In addition to the Minya Kita price problem that exceeds HET, it was also found that cooking oil was manipulated. So it's not only a matter of limited production and stock, but there is also a misappropriation of cooking oil due to the price disparities of various types of cooking oil that are high.

According to the Indonesian Vegetable Oil Industry Association, the price of premium cooking oil currently reaches up to Rp. 21,000 per liter. Meanwhile, Minya Kita in modern retail ranges from Rp. 15,700 per liter, and bulk cooking oil is Rp. 17,000-Rp. 18,000 per liter.

On the other hand, the price of used oil or jelantah for biodiesel raw materials in the international market is quite high, which is around Rp. 18,000 per liter. The price disparities that are quite high are used by certain elements by buying cooking oil to be manipulated.

These naughty individuals then sell the manipulated oil abroad in the form of broken oil or trade it as bulk cooking oil with a higher price. As a result of this fraud, the people's cooking oil stock, which should have been abundant, could not be felt by the community.

"Secrets like this should be the attention of the Government, law enforcement, and other relevant stakeholders. As a result of the irresponsible game of elements, the community has difficulty getting cheap cooking oil," said Puan.

The scarcity also makes the price of oil even higher. In the end, the people are still victims. We ask for intervention to overcome such manipulation or abuse," added the first woman to serve as Chair of the DPR RI.

On the other hand, the Government through Perum Bulog stated that the supply and price of rice ahead of Christmas and New Year 2024/2025 is quite safe. Even so, it has been observed that there has been an increase in the price of a number of commodity items such as shallots, garlic, red cayenne pepper, pure beef, broiler eggs, simple packaged cooking oil, flour (curah), and even bloating fish.

"At the end of the year, there is usually an increase in the price of the basic needs of the community. This is what the Government should pay attention to in order to maintain the trend of rising commodity prices," said Puan.

Furthermore, the former Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture reminded the importance of the Government's cooperation with producers to increase food production and ensure that distribution is evenly distributed. This, said Puan, is one of the efforts in maintaining commodity price stability.

"Currently, the people are faced with economic turmoil which is still quite burdensome. People's purchasing power is decreasing, the phenomenon of mass layoffs which increases the number of unemployed, to inflation," he said.

If the prices of basic necessities are getting higher, of course this will be even more burdensome for the people's lives. So it is the responsibility of the Government to answer these challenges for the welfare of the community," he continued.

Puan also encourages periodic monitoring and evaluation of price trends and demand for main commodities. According to him, this will ensure that existing policies remain effective and relevant to market conditions.

"The government must also increase cooperation in price supervision and inflation management at the local level, especially to support the lower middle class," said Puan.

"With these steps, we hope that the government can protect the interests of the community at the end of the year," continued Bung Karno's grandson.

Puan also emphasized the importance of the Government making effective policies so that there is no impact on people's lives which makes their lives even more difficult.

"Then make sure everything is in a stable condition, both economic, social, political, and security so that people can feel the moment of Christmas and New Year comfortably and peacefully," concluded Puan.