Moslem community minimarket opens in Pulo Gadung<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A Moslem community cooperative and minimarket
\nofficially opened Saturday in Pulo Gadung, East Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The cooperative, called Laa Roiba, is designed to help reduce
\npoverty by providing loans to small-scale traders.<\/p>\n
The minimarket of the same name sells halal (allowed under
\nIslamic teachings) food.<\/p>\n
Both Kayu Putih subdistrict enterprises were set up by the
\nEast Jakarta branch of the Association of Indonesian Moslem
\nIntellectuals (ICMI).<\/p>\n
Minister of Food Ibrahim Hasan officially dedicated the
\ncooperative and minimarket on Saturday.<\/p>\n
The chairman of the Jakarta chapter of ICMI, Lt. Gen. (ret)
\nAchmad Tirtosudiro and several members of the executive board of
\nthe Indonesian Ulemas Council were present at the opening.<\/p>\n
Laa Roiba's manager, Hely Mulyaningsih, told The Jakarta Post
\nthat the cooperative will lend money from initial capital of Rp
\n19 million (US$8,158).<\/p>\n
It will also provide free consultation for traders, mostly
\nlocal vegetable vendors.<\/p>\n
"The money lent is without interest. It is lent on a profit
\nsharing basis," Hely added.<\/p>\n
The traders are given 100 days to return the money, she said.<\/p>\n
"Since we started our program two weeks ago, we have
\ndistributed Rp 14 million to 75 traders," Hely said.<\/p>\n
The loans ranged from Rp 150,00 to Rp 200,000.<\/p>\n
"We judge them by prior survey of their business prospects and
\ntheir credibility," she said.<\/p>\n
Hely expressed hope that Laa Roiba will help poor people who
\nfind it difficult to get loans from banks.<\/p>\n
Regarding the minimarket, Hely said that Laa Roiba is planning
\nto open six branches, one of which will be on Jl. Baling-Baling
\nin Walangan, Tanjung Priok.<\/p>\n
"Laa Roiba will only market food and products that have been
\napproved by the Indonesian Ulemas Council," she said.<\/p>\n
Minister Ibrahim said that as people grow more prosperous,
\nthey seek assurance that the food they consume is in line with
\ntheir beliefs. However this is difficult with more and more food
\nbeing imported, he said.<\/p>\n
Laa Roiba, which translates as "no doubts", guarantees that
\nthe food it sells is safe for consumers, even though the Law on
\nFood regarding protection of consumers has yet to be passed, the
\nminister said.<\/p>\n
Ideally, he said, the distribution of food should be
\ncontrolled by consumers.<\/p>\n
The minimarket does not sell cigarettes, which are considered
\nmakruh (not advisable) by Islamic teachings, Agus Soetomo, one of
\nthe ICMI branch executives said.<\/p>\n
Both the minimarket and the cooperative are located at Jl.
\nBangunan Timur No. 14, which also houses the secretariat of
\nICMI's East Jakarta branch. (26)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/moslem-community-minimarket-opens-in-pulo-gadung-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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