Fuel hike delay a blessing in disguise<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): While the central government announced on Friday
\nafternoon a postponement of the fuel price hike, the city
\nadministration stated earlier in the morning that it was not
\nready to carry out the fuel subsidy scheme due to lack of written
\ninstruction.<\/p>\n
\"We haven't received information from the central government
\non how to carry out the subsidy,\" city spokesman Muhayat told
\nreporters at his office.<\/p>\n
Similar comments were also voiced by other officials.<\/p>\n
Deputy governor on Administrative affairs Abdul Kahfi said the
\nsubsidy matter had been taken care of by the central government,
\nnot the Jakarta administration.<\/p>\n
Separately, deputy governor for economics and financial
\naffairs Fauzie Alvi Yassin insisted that the city administration
\nhad yet to receive a manual on how to carry out the scheme.<\/p>\n
National Development Planning Board (Bappenas) recently
\ndecided to replace the initial coupon system with a direct cash
\nsystem. The board has allocated more than Rp 2.133 billion (US$
\n284,000) for 213,358 poor families in the city for kerosene.<\/p>\n
The government planned to hike the price of kerosene from Rp
\n280 to Rp 350 per liter, diesel from Rp 550 to Rp 600, and
\npremium from Rp 1,000 to Rp 1,150.<\/p>\n
Each poor family is entitled to receive Rp 10,000 during a
\nnine-month period from April to December. Bappenas calculated a
\nfamily consumes 15 liters of kerosene each month.<\/p>\n
The plan, however, was heavily opposed for residents already
\nhave to buy kerosene at higher prices, between Rp 400 to Rp 500
\nper liter from traders -- although the current price is still set
\nat Rp 280. The Rp 70 subsidy, they said, is regarded as
\ninsignificant.<\/p>\n
According to the new subsidy scheme, the government will
\ntransfer the money to poor residents through post offices.
\nResidents are required to have certain identification cards
\nprovided by local authorities.<\/p>\n
However, most local authorities contacted on Friday said that
\nthey didn't have any idea on how to provide such identification
\ncards to residents.<\/p>\n
Most of them admitted they never received instruction on how
\nto implement the system.<\/p>\n
A similar scheme has been designed for owners of public land
\ntransportation vehicles.<\/p>\n
The government's plan to announce its final decision on the
\nplanned fuel price hike on Friday had apparently been noted by
\nmotorists in the capital.<\/p>\n
Since Thursday there have been no long lines of cars at fuel
\nstations in the capital.<\/p>\n
Owner of a fuel station on Jl. Gajah Mada and Jl. Hayam Wuruk
\nin West Jakarta, Suryadi, said that the customer demand on Friday
\nwas no different than that of the past few days.<\/p>\n
\"I still sell the fuel at the same volume of 21 kiloliters per
\nday,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Similar conditions were also found at fuel stations on Jl.
\nDiponegoro in Central Jakarta, Jl. Daan Mogot in West Jakarta and
\nJl. Pramuka in East Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Edo, a supervisor at a fuel station of Jl. Diponegoro, said he
\nhad filled the station's fuel tanks to their full capacity -- 30
\nkiloliters of premium, high octane Premix and unleaded Super TT
\ngasoline.<\/p>\n
\"It is just a way of preparing for any possible increase in
\ndemand,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Several city residents who had stockpiled fuel now regretted
\ndoing so, however.<\/p>\n
Food stall owner at Pesing area in West Jakarta, Hamidah, said
\nthat she bought 15 liters of kerosene on Friday morning, which
\nwas five liters more than she uses per day.<\/p>\n
\"I should of course spend money for other purposes,\" she said,
\nadding that she was anxious about the possible price increase.<\/p>\n
Bajaj taxi driver Muhendar also said that he had bought extra
\ndiesel fuel for the same reason.<\/p>\n
\"I hope the government won't carry through with the plan,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Bogor police's detective unit was investigating
\nkerosene distribution following reports of disappearing fuel.<\/p>\n
Bogor Regional Police chief Col. Edi Darnadi said on Friday
\nthere was speculation that kerosene agents had stockpiled fuel.<\/p>\n
\"If this is true we will question and arrest the persons
\nbecause they have caused unrest,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He also added that those guilty could be punished under the
\n1955 Law No. 5 on Economic Crime, which carries a maximum penalty
\nof a four-year jail term. (21\/ind\/nvn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/fuel-hike-delay-a-blessing-in-disguise-1447893297",
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