He made the request after visiting "Pasar Anyar" traditional market in Tangerang, Banten province to check food prices.
"Do not say prices in the market are high because traders could get angry if no one came to their market to shop (because of that)" he said.
President Jokowi who was accompanied by Industry Minister Airlangga Hartarto during the visit bought some vegetables in the market.
Sandiaga Uno, the running mate of Prabowo Subianto, who is Jokowi`s rival in the next presidential election in April next year, recently claimed during a visit to a market in Parung Panjang, Bogor, West Java, that the price of a soybean cake (traditional staple food) as well as other vegetable priced had gone up adding traders had complained to him about it.
President Jokowi emphasized that "prices are stable. The prices of many items have even dropped. Indeed one or two prices have been up but fluctuation is a common thing," citing the price of meat that has gone up a bit while the price of egg has dropped.
"If you say prices in the market are high mothers will not go the market but to supermarkets, hypermarkets or even shopping malls. So, please tell the fact when you visit a market. Tell about the prices as they are," he said.
On the occasion President Jokowi called on traders to keep the market clean so that they can compete with supermarkets.
Reporting by Desca Lidya Natalia
Editing by Yoseph Hariyadi
-YH/C/F001) 04-11-2018 10:45:16
Reporter: Antara
Editor: Andi Abdussalam
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
