Ibrahim may quit Bulog chief post by this weekend<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of Food Ibrahim Hasan yesterday
\nrefused to comment on the likelihood that he will no longer chair
\nthe National Logistic Agency (Bulog) by the end of this week.<\/p>\n
\"Don't ask me such questions. I know nothing about that,\" he
\nreplied to questions raised by journalists after a meeting with
\nPresident Soeharto at the Merdeka Palace.<\/p>\n
A senior official, related to food management in Indonesia,
\ntold The Jakarta Post yesterday that the chairmanship of Bulog
\nwill be transferred from Ibrahim to Bedu Amang, the agency's
\ncurrent deputy chairman.<\/p>\n
The official, who asked for anonymity, said that the ceremony
\nfor the transfer of the position will be carried out tomorrow.<\/p>\n
Bedu Amang was not available for confirmation yesterday.<\/p>\n
A rumor on the separation from the office of the state
\nminister of food and Bulog was first aired by the Republika daily
\nlast week.<\/p>\n
Bulog has fallen under media scrutiny since last year's harsh
\ndrought slashed Indonesia's rice production by four percent, to
\n46.40 million tons of unhusked rice, from the production level of
\n1993. Bulog is the only agency authorized to import and control
\nthe distribution of rice in the country.<\/p>\n
Indonesia, formerly the biggest rice importer in the world,
\nbecame self sufficient in 1984. Rice is the main staple diet of
\nthe Indonesian population, currently about 189 million.<\/p>\n
Ibrahim conceded last week that the drought had cut down
\nBulog's rice stocks, as of last December, to around 938,000 tons,
\nthe lowest level in 15 years. As a result, Indonesia was forced
\nto import rice last year, the first time in many years.<\/p>\n
Intervention<\/p>\n
Despite Bulog's market interventions, local news reports cite
\nrice prices continuing to rise due to shortages caused by delayed
\nmonsoons which have damaged the country's first rice harvest for
\nthe year.<\/p>\n
The price increases are also generated by rising demand prior
\nto the Moslem Idul Fitri holiday early next month.<\/p>\n
Ibrahim yesterday defended Bulog's policies on rice supply.<\/p>\n
\"Self-sufficiency is still safe because the rice that we
\nimport is only a small part of the rate of annual rice
\nconsumption,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The minister also said that at present, the nation's rice
\nstocks are estimated at 800,000 tons which should be adequate for
\nsix months, assuming that Bulog is not forced to release any more
\nof its stocks.<\/p>\n
\"There is nothing to worry about considering the quantity of
\nrice,\" he said without explaining why prices continue to rise.<\/p>\n
Analysts have estimated that a minimum of 28.6 million tons of
\nhusked rice will be demanded this year. The Ministry of
\nAgriculture has estimated that rice production this year will
\nincrease by six percent from last year's level.<\/p>\n
Ibrahim also said that the government is aware of the news
\nreport which stated that some people do not like the taste of the
\nimported rice, which mostly came from Myanmar.<\/p>\n
\"We know that the standard of the imported rice is lower than
\nours, but people should not be too picky. The government has
\nalready done the best it could,\" he said. (hdj)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ibrahim-may-quit-bulog-chief-post-by-this-weekend-1447893297",
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