GO TO The Cipinang Rice Warehouse, Buwas Finds Allegations Of DistributorFT

The President Director of Perum Bulog Budi Karyo made a comparison of Bulog rice (right) with premium rice (left) at the Cipinang Rice Main Market, Jakarta/ Mery Handayani/VOI

JAKARTA - The President Director of Perum Bulog, Budi Waseso, inspected the PT Food Station Rice Warehouse at the Cipinang Rice Main Market (PIBC) today. During the inspection, he also visited several warehouses for rice traders.

During the inspection, Buwas, nicknamed Budi Waseso, found two warehouses of rice traders suspected of misappropriation of Bulog Market Operation rice.

During VOI's monitoring at the location, Buwas visited three warehouses belonging to traders in the Cipinang Rice Main Market area. Of the three warehouses visited, it was found that two traders repackaged 50 kilograms (kg) of rice.

"So no matter how much we roll it out, there is no benefit, because the price remains high. From Bulog to buy Rp8,800, it is transferred to premium sacks for other brands for Rp12.000. Because this is considered domestic production," said Buwas, at the Cipinang Rice Main Market, Jakarta, Friday, February 3.

In addition to being packaged using premium packaging, said Buwas, there is the potential for mixing Bulog rice with other rice. This allegation will be proven through laboratory tests.

Meanwhile, the results from the laboratory will be given to the Food Task Force (Satgas) to follow up. Buwas hopes that the Food Task Force can impose strict sanctions on the naughty distributor.

(Rice) Bulog's sack was moved to a different sack. So the selling price is high. There needs to be supervision," he said.

Padahal, sambung Buwas, perbutan tersebut melanggar pidana yakni pemalsuan. Apalagi, jika beras Bulog dipambah dengan beras lain dan dijual komersil.

"It will also be subject to the consumer law. For example, this could be one in the mix one Bulog. Even though you can mix it later (knowledge) some of Vietnam earlier," he explained.

Buwas also found diecer rice in 5kg size. Because of that, Buwas admitted that he would coordinate with the Food Station (FS) not to allow distributors in his warehouse to pack Bulog rice into 5 kg packaging.

"That's what I said, I asked the Food Station to supervise itself. This is the Food Station area, he has responsibility. On the other hand, there is a food task force," he said.