I was paid Rp100 thousand (US$6.75), although the price (of the basket) was only Rp15 thousand (US$1.01).
Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and First Lady Iriana Widodo reviewed the price of bulk cooking oil at Muntilan Market, Magelang district, on the sidelines of a working visit to Central Java province on Saturday.

"How much is it (the bulk cooking oil), ma'am?" the President asked one of the merchants at the market, according to a press release issued by the Press, Media, and Information Bureau (BPMI) of the Presidential Secretariat on Saturday.

“One liter (of the bulk cooking oil) is Rp14,500 (US$0.98), while one kilogram (kg) is Rp15 thousand (US$1.01)," the seller, Titin Suryani, informed.

At the market, the President and the First Lady also bought several spices and vegetables, such as red chilies, onions, carrots, bitter melon, and turmeric. Widodo also enquired about the prices of vegetables.

In addition, he purchased some crackers and a woven bamboo basket.

Related news: President visits Cibinong Market to monitor cooking oil prices

According to the press statement, the basket seller, Almisih, said that they were very happy that the President had bought the handicraft.

"I was paid Rp100 thousand (US$6.75), although the price (of the basket) was only Rp15 thousand (US$1.01)," the seller informed.

After inspecting the market and greeting traders and visitors, the President and the First Lady directly distributed assistance to beneficiaries.

They were accompanied by Social Affairs Minister Tri Rismaharini and Governor of Central Java, Ganjar Pranowo.

Earlier, the price of cooking oil kept had spiked on the back of rising global palm oil prices.

In response, the government had set the price of bulk cooking oil at Rp14 thousand per liter, or Rp15,500 per kilogram (kg) on March 17, 2022.

However, since the stocks of the commodity were found inadequate, the government had banned the export of cooking oil and its raw materials on April 28.

In view of the recent cooking oil price trend and stocks as well as the welfare of the 17-million palm oil industry workers, the President announced on May 20 that the ban would be revoked on May 23.
Related news: Government's cooking oil export ban lifted over stable supply, prices
Related news: Cooking oil exports to resume from May 23: Jokowi

Translator: Rangga Jingga, Uyu Liman
Editor: Suharto
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