Jakarta – President Prabowo’s government has reaffirmed its commitment to take firm action against those involved in adulterated rice, which harms the public and tarnishes the credibility of national food distribution. This crackdown follows increasing public reports of adulterated rice distribution in several regions.
President Prabowo Subianto has asked law enforcement officials to investigate the case of adulterated regular rice and premium rice. Losses from the adulterated premium rice are estimated to reach Rp 100 trillion.
“I’ve received another report, sir. The base price is Rp6,500, but they’re selling it in a fraudulent manner. They’re packaging regular rice, labeling it premium rice, and selling it for Rp5,000, above the highest retail price. Ladies and gentlemen, this is fraud, and it’s a crime,” said President Prabowo.
President Prabowo stated that this practice constitutes fraud that has the potential to harm the national economy. The impact of this practice is estimated to cost the state Rp 100 trillion annually.
On the one hand, President Prabowo stated that Finance Minister Sri Mulyani had made efforts to increase state revenue through taxes and customs tariffs. Therefore, he asked the police and prosecutors to investigate the case.
“I ask the Attorney General and the Chief of Police to investigate and prosecute this crime,” said President Prabowo.
“I received a report that the losses suffered by the Indonesian economy, the losses suffered by the Indonesian nation, the losses suffered by the Indonesian people, amounted to Rp100 trillion every year,” President Prabowo continued.
President Prabowo stated that many entrepreneurs no longer apply normal economic principles, but instead adopt greedy economic principles. Therefore, his administration calls this principle “greedonomics.” His administration will not hesitate to take action against greedy entrepreneurs. He has warned both entrepreneurs and other parties against corruption.
“Some say there’s a liberal, neoliberal, free-market, socialist, command-economy school of economics, and so on. This isn’t it; this is different. I call it greedy economics. This is greedy economics. We don’t need to treat it favorably,” President Prabowo explained.
“I have warned you several times over the months, please obey the provisions, obey the law,” continued President Prabowo.
The government is urging the public to be more vigilant against rice at unreasonable prices and to report any indication of fraud to the authorities. With these decisive measures, the government hopes to curb fraudulent practices in the food sector and ensure that the public receives quality rice at a fair price.
