Indef Calls Rice Scandal Oplosan Evidence Of Weak Government Supervision

Head of Indef Center of Food, Energy, and Sustainable Development (FESD), Abra Talattov (photo: x @Purwo_Pawiro ·)

JAKARTA - The Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (Indef) assessed that the adulterated rice scandal that occurred some time ago was proof of the weak government's supervision of food distribution.

Head of the Indef Center of Food, Energy, and Sustainable Development (FESD), Abra Talattov, said that as many as 79 percent of rice brands tested by the Ministry of Agriculture did not meet quality standards that led to erosion of public trust.

"As a result, there has been erosion of market confidence, distortion of public distribution, and inequality in prices between regions," he said in the July 2025 edition of Monthly Update entitled Food Market Prone to Manipulation, Energy Subsidy Prone to Swelling', in Jakarta, Sunday, August 3.

On the other hand, continued Abra, the government's response to this problem has not yet touched the root of the problem. The government's plan to uniformize rice prices actually risks increasing distortion in the community.

"The policy plan for price and quality uniformity (one national HET) has the potential to cause disincentive quality improvement, distribution gap, and pressure for small actors," he said.

According to Abra, structural reforms are needed in the form of strengthening the national quality system, zoning-based price schemes, and gradual transitional policies.

"The goal is to create a rice market that is fair, efficient, and resistant to manipulation," he explained.

For your information, the Head of the National Police Food Task Force, Brigadier General Helfi Assegaf, revealed that the losses due to rice practices that did not match the quality and standards of this packaged or mixed claim reached Rp99.35 trillion per year.

This figure consists of premium rice of IDR 34.21 trillion. Then, medium rice of IDR 65.14 trillion.

In the development of this case, it was found that three producers of five rice brands were found selling products that did not match their quality. Some of them are PT PIM with the Sania brand. Then, PT FS with the brand Ramos Merah, Ramos Biru, and Ramos Pulen. Then, the SY Store with the brand Jelita and Twins.

The police have also confiscated 201 tons of rice as evidence in the deepening of this case. Consisting of 5 kilograms (kg) and 2.5 kg of packaged rice.