By: Gani Permata) *
Prabowo Subianto’s visit to Blora Regency was in the spotlight. Still in the framework of the 2019 Presidential Election campaign, the candidate number 02 again gave a controversial statement. Prabowo said that the price of rice, beef and chicken meat in Indonesia is one of the highest in the world.
“Rice in Indonesia is one of the highest in the world, so meat is also the highest in the world. The highest chicken meat in the world. Our struggle is for us to fix this situation immediately, “said Prabowo.
According to Prabowo, the high prices were compounded by the economic conditions of the majority of the Indonesian people who were in a difficult situation. He considered this to happen because of the leakage of state wealth. So that it causes the wealth that should be enjoyed by the people to flow out. Prabowo also promised that if elected President, he would immediately improve these conditions and secure the wealth of the nation.
Responding to the statement, Hanura politician Inas Nasrullah Zubir said Prabowo was again spreading hoaxes. According to him, Prabowo had a dark eye to seize power so often to convey information without research.
“It’s really surprising with Prabowo’s statement about the price of rice, beef and chicken, because to find prices for these commodities on the internet will be very easy. But unfortunately Prabowo Subianto has been blinded by the desire to seize power that cannot be detained anymore, “said Inas.
Inas then revealed rice prices in Asia based on global data. He said the price of rice to meat in Indonesia was among the lowest in Asia. Based on the global database, Numbeo, rice prices in Indonesia are ranked 80th out of 89 countries that are listed. Where the list is sorted from countries with the highest to lowest prices. The price of rice in Indonesia is only more expensive than Poland, namely Rp. 11,857, Vietnam Rp. 11,262, Nepal Rp. 10,996, Kazakhstan Rp. 10,049, India Rp. 9,895, Bangladesh Rp. 9,746, Egypt Rp. 9,035, Tunisia Rp. 8,134, and Sri Lanka Rp. 7,847.
While for beef prices, Indonesia ranks 49th out of 89 countries, sorted from countries with the highest prices. The price of cattle in Indonesia is Rp. 118,373. While Switzerland is the country with the highest beef prices, which is Rp 675,498, followed by Norway Rp 385,302, Iceland Rp 354,412, South Korea Rp 312,577, and Hong Kong Rp 276,390.
For chicken prices, based on data compiled by CEIC, the average retail price of chicken meat in Indonesia is US $ 3.21. Kg (Rp. 44,940 / kg). This price is still relatively cheap when compared to the price of chicken meat in Singapore which is still at US $ 4.72 / kg. Moreover, Japan, where the price of 1 kilo of chicken meat reaches US $ 12.21.
Prabowo’s statement regarding the high price of rice and beef shows that Paslon Prabowo-Sandi is again spreading hoaxes to scare the people into his campaign. Prabowo’s integrity as a presidential candidate was questioned. Supposedly as a prospective leader, Prabowo presents data based on facts, not hoaxes and cross checks of information that will be submitted to the public.
The pattern of the spread of hoaks is considered not to provide good political education for the people, instead it tends to be dangerous for election contestations. Ahead of the 2019 Election, all parties should participate in making the 2019 Election clean and honest, and not frighten the people with false news.
) * The author is a student at the University of Persada Indonesia
