"There is no problem with the supplies of basic necessaries. Until Lebaran the supplies will be enough and secure," he said after paying a working visit to Pasar Baru here on Sunday.
Hatta said that the prices of several basic commodities, such as chicken meat, onion and red chili had declined, while that of rice had increased.
"The price of chicken meat fell to Rp22 thousand from Rp28 thousand, and so did the prices of red chili and onion. Only the price of rice remains high," he said.
The minister asked the public not to put the blame on speculators for an increase in the prices of basic commodities. The government had so far launched market operations shortly after the prices of basic commodities rose, he said.
"We do not need to put the blame on speculators. What is important is that if the prices of basic commodities increase the government will soon launch market operations," he said.
The government would always try to maintain the stable prices of basic commodities by among others launching market operations, he said.
Hatta said his visit to Pasar Baru, Bandung, was part of his working visits to regions to see for himself the implementation of smallholder business credit (KUR) programs.(*)
(S012/H-NG/O001)
Editor: Ruslan Burhani
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
