The rice was considered unfit for consumption because it had congealed and several foreign particles were detected in it
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Vice speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR) Rachmat Gobel has said that the distribution of poor quality rice aid to West Jakarta residents is regrettable.

The end-to-end distribution of rice aid must be undertaken with care so that the quality of rice is maintained, he advised.

"Yes, we do regret the (disbursal of) low quality rice. Maybe, they were from the old (stocks)," Gobel remarked while reviewing a mass vaccination program in Kalideres sub-district, West Jakarta on Wednesday.

The rice given to residents must be fit for consumption, he stressed.

"Before it is handed over, the rice must be checked again. This problem shows the lack of implementation of the system that has been made," he added.

Earlier, regional State Logistics Agency (Bulog) of Jakarta and Banten as well as state-run postal service PT Pos Indonesia had replaced rice assistance provided to residents of Angke village, Tambora sub-district, West Jakarta after it was found unfit for consumption.

Head of operational and public service of Bulog Jakarta and Banten Volta Aresta said that the withdrawal and replacement of poor quality rice has been executed since Saturday (August 7).

The rice was considered unfit for consumption because it had congealed and several foreign particles were detected in it, Aresta informed.

"It is medium rice. The wet rice and the blobs (that were detected on the rice) are because of the rain and heat," she remarked.

The rice had congealed into clumps due to rain falling on it during the loading and unloading process, she added.

"The process of replacing wet rice with consumption-worthy rice done by the Jakarta and Banten State Logistics Agency together with PT. Pos Indonesia went smoothly," she added.

Social Affairs Minister Tri Rismaharini has assured earlier that poor-quality rice distributed as social aid will be replaced with new rice of better quality without delay.

The Social Affairs Office has also been authorized to directly ask the rice provider for compensation if the quality of the rice is not satisfactory, she added.

The government is distributing rice aid amid the implementation of community activity restrictions (PPKM).

Under the aid program, 10 kg of rice has been distributed to 10 million PKH beneficiary families, 10 million beneficiary families of cash transfer program (BST), and 8.8 million beneficiary families of Non-Cash Food Aids (BPNT)/Sembako Cards, she informed.

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Translator: Walda M, Kenzu T
Editor: Sri Haryati
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