The Indonesian National Police (Polri) formed a monitoring team in the region to prevent the hoarding of cooking oil. This follows the provision of a reduction in the price of cooking oil to IDR 14,000 per one liter.
“The team monitors the production, distribution and sale of cooking oil, takes action if there are wholesale and stockpiling actions. Especially for premium packaged cooking oil,” said Karo Penmas, Police Public Relations Division, Brigadier General Ahmad Ramadhan in his statement on Thursday (January 20, 2022).
In this prevention effort, said Ahmad, a maximum of 2 liters of cooking oil is also excluded. Ahmad said the National Police were coordinating with a number of agencies to implement the regulation.
“Coordinate with the Ministry of Trade of the Republic of Indonesia and the Provincial or City or Regency Trade Offices to issue implementing regulations or technical regulations for selling cooking oil at one price, namely IDR 14,000 per liter, which is limited to 2 liters per purchase, to anticipate wholesale and hoarding,” he said.
Ahmad explained that those who are proven to hoard will be ensnared in Article 107 of Law No. 7 of 2014 concerning Hoarding. The threat is 5 years in prison or a fine of IDR 50 billion.
“This is in accordance with Article 107 of Law No. 7 of 2014 concerning Hoarding with a threat of 5 years or a fine of 50 billion,” he said.
Previously, the Ministry of Trade (Kemendag) set the price of cooking oil to fall starting on Wednesday (January 19, 2022). The price of cooking oil fell to IDR 14,000 per liter for retail sales.