"Buying (MinyaKita) now requires an ID card, and residents must be prevented from buying the oil excessively," Hasan stated while visiting Kreneng Market here to observe commodity prices on Saturday.
While residents are allowed to purchase a larger amount of the oil package, the minister stressed that the cooking oil must not be resold.
"It is permissible to purchase up to five kilograms, as long as they can show the ID card. They must not buy the cooking oil excessively for reselling purposes," he emphasized.
The minister also urged merchants to not sell the MinyaKita product above the highest retail price of Rp14 thousand (US$0.89) per litre, as dictated by the government, lest they will be sanctioned by the Food Task Force and have their stores closed down.
Related news: Govt to supply 450,000 tons cooking oil monthly until Apr
Meanwhile, Hasan said that the government and producers had agreed to increase the supply of cooking oil, from 300 thousand tons per month to 450 thousand tons.
"We also reduce (the supply) to modern supermarkets and online marketplaces. The supply is now (prioritized) to (traditional) markets," he remarked while adding that traditional markets would be prioritized for the supply at least until the 2023 Eid al-Fitr next April.
The minister also commended Denpasar Mayor I Gusti Ngurah Jaya Negara's effective performance in controlling basic food prices in the city.
The Denpasar authority monitored the price of basic need items daily and provided subsidies to merchants to help stabilize the price, he noted.
As observed by Hasan during his visit to Kreneng Market, MinyaKita cooking oil was sold at the prescribed price of Rp14 thousand per liter, while other premium cooking oil products were priced in the range of Rp16-17 thousand (US$1.02-1.08) per liter.
Apart from conversing with market merchants, the minister also purchased various basic foods sold in the market, including cooking oil, subsidized rice, chicken meat, and eggs, which he shared with residents visiting the market.
Related news: Awaiting legal basis for red cooking oil factory establishment
Related news: Minister supports initiative of red cooking oil production
Translator: Ni Luh Rhismawati, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
Copyright © ANTARA 2023
