Answer The Complaints Of Residents Of The Lampaui HET Cooking Oil Price, The Food Task Force In Mataram Conducts A Search

Head of Satreskrim Polresta Mataram Kompol Kadek Adi Budi Astawa. (ANTARA)

The food task force in Mataram City, West Nusa Tenggara is investigating the cause of rice and cooking oil prices rising or exceeding the highest retail price (HET). Currently, rice per kilogram in Mataram City is sold at a price of Rp. 13 thousand. Then, bulk cooking oil at a price of Rp. 15 thousand per liter. Meanwhile, for packaging Rp. 20 thousand per liter. According to the regulation of the Indonesian Ministry of Trade, through circular Number: 3 of 2023 concerning Guidelines for Sales of People's Goreng Oil, HET packaged cooking oil Rp. 14 thousand per liter and bulk oil Rp. 15.5 thousand per kilogram. Kasatreskrim Polresta Mataram Kompol Kadek Adi Budi Astawa said his party, who is a member of the food task force in Mataram City, traced this based on public complaints. "In addition to the increase in prices that have become public complaints, it turns out that the stock of goods in the market is also starting to be limited. What is the cause, we are currently investigating this," said Kadek in Mataram, quoted from Antara, Thursday, February 16. During the search, Kadek ensured that his party was building coordination with related agencies included in the food task force, such as the Mataram City Trade Office, the Mataram City Civil Service Police Unit (Satpol-PP), and the prosecutor's office. He also said that the increase in these two basic commodities was observed in the last two weeks. According to him, the limited stock of goods in the market is the cause of price increases. Therefore, if criminal indications are found in the distribution of the staple chain, such as hoarding activities, Kadek ensures that his party will take firm action legally. "If there is (stolen), we will process the law," he said. From this issue, Kadek assured his party that he would go to the field by visiting traders, from the distributor level to retail traders. "Intensively, according to the leadership's direction, we will help the government control prices so that there are no more basic commodities that exceed the HET," he said.