Council wants prices stabilized

Council wants prices stabilized

JAKARTA (JP): The city council wants the price of food staples stabilized in anticipation of the Christmas and New Year's celebrations.

Hasan Dasy, of the city council's commission for economic affairs, said yesterday that city councilors, the Regional Economy Development Office, the City Logistics Agency, the Animal Husbandry Office and city-owned PT Food Station Cipinang must coordinate their plans.

"Anticipation is a must. An increase in the nine staple supplies could create unrest," he said.

The nine staples are rice, sugar, meat, flour and oil.

The price of rice and other basics tends to rise before Christmas, New Years and Idul Fitri, he said.

"Traders unreasonably increase their prices to make a quick profit," he said.

He urged the offices to monitor the price of staples in the city's markets.

He said the offices must immediately discipline traders who use the holidays to make unjustifiable profits.

Meanwhile, Wiryomartono, the president of PT Food Station Cipinang, which manages the Cipinang Rice Market in East Jakarta, said yesterday that the operation isn't necessary because there is no serious problem.

He said the price of rice returned to the state logistics agency's standard after a slight increase in the first week of this month.

He said the agency sets the price of rice at between Rp 890 (US 38 cents) and Rp 950 a kilogram.(32)