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)