According to an official press release received here on Friday, the Coordinating Ministry for Political and Security Affairs will monitor the food prices to ensure they are in accordance with the set retail price ceiling.
Gunawan noted that the government has determined the price ceiling for several food commodities, including the cheap cooking oil product Minyakita, whose retail price ceiling is Rp15,700 (around US$0.96) per liter. However, the cooking oil is still sold above the price ceiling, reaching Rp17,500.
He explained that if this condition continues, people will have difficulty buying food during Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr projected to fall in March.
To this end, the government warned entrepreneurs to remain compliant in setting food prices during the upcoming Eid al-Fitr period.
"We do not tolerate entrepreneurs who violate it and may harm the community," he stressed.
In addition to increasing monitoring, he invited the community to report to the government if they found food prices above the retail price ceiling and food hoarding.
Earlier, President Prabowo Subianto instructed his ministers to reduce the prices of staple commodities and other goods ahead of Ramadan.
During a luncheon with several ministers at the Presidential Palace Complex on Friday (February 21), Prabowo emphasized that the prices of staple goods should be lower than those during last year's Ramadan and that some products should also be cheaper than in Malaysia.
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Translator: Walda Marison, Raka Adji
Editor: Primayanti
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