Bahlil Moves President Prabowo's Response To 3 Kg LPG Gejolak, The Impact Is Felt By The Community

Seller of subsidized LPG gas cylinders. (Between-Rendhik Andika)

JAKARTA - The government is moving to respond to the dynamics in the community after the change in sales governance of Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) of 3 kilograms by changing the retailer's status to a sub base. The change in policy was felt by residents who sell the small-scale melon gas every day.

Salah satunya Slamet Hariyanto (55 tahun), pemilik warung sembako di rumahnya sendiri di daerah Kampung Mandar, Kecamatan Banyuwangi, Kabupaten Banyuwangi, Jawa Timur. Dengan kebijakan terbaru yang dikeluarkan Presiden Prabowo Subianto itu, Slamet mengaku sebagai pedagang pencer bisa kembali menjual gas LPG ke masyarakat sekitar yang lokatnya jauh dari base resmi.

"If the policy is revoked, return to the old rules, it really helps the community. As a retailer, I can also help people get gas around me," Hariyanto said when met by the media crew in front of his shop, Tuesday, February 4 afternoon.

The good news regarding the policy change was also welcomed by Sakri (32 years), another store owner who sold 3 kg LPG gas in Mandar Village, According to him, the initial policy taken by the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia was correct. Sakri is the owner of a basic food shop which is at the same time the official LPG gas base. However, he admitted that he only sells gas to ordinary residents, not to retailers.

According to Sakri, the LPG gas ban policy for retailers aims to equalize prices so as not to be expensive when accessed by small residents.

"If the base has been sold to retailers, what is certain is that retailers will increase prices, to seek profit, so that the price received by the community is not the fixed retail price (HET) anymore, it is no longer 18,000 for the East Java region, but it can be 20,000, or even more," said Sakri when met at his shop on Tuesday, February 5 afternoon.

According to Sakri, the policy taken by Minister Bahlil did not have much significant impact in Banyuwangi, especially Kampung Mandar. Although, he himself did not deny that there was turmoil in other areas.

"If there is turmoil, for this area, especially Mandar Village, there is none. With these rules, there is no problem," he said.

"But with today's policy, the retailer ban has been lifted directly by Mr. Prabowo, so what can we do. Because maybe in other areas there will be turmoil with such rules," he continued.

Previously, Minister Bahlil said the government was drafting regulations so that the status of retailers could be changed to a base so that people could get the appropriate price when buying directly at the base.

When signing the regulation, Minister Bahlil said the ban was made to prevent price games at the retail level. The policy was then refined again by changing the status of retailers to sub bases.