Food going cheap at police bazaar

JAKARTA (JP): City police are holding a two-day food bazaar, which finishes today, at their headquarters on Jl. Jend. Sudirman, South Jakarta.

Jakarta Police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang said the annual bazaar, which is held a week before the Idul Fitri holiday, was well received by the public yesterday.

He said the food for sale included cooking oil, rice, flour and sugar, which were sold out within three hours, faster than in previous years.

"But this year's bazaar is special because it is held amid the monetary crisis."

Aritonang said the prices of items were incredibly low. Cooking oil and sugar, for example, were sold at Rp 2,000 (20 U.S. cents) and Rp 1,800 per kilogram, respectively -- about half of market prices.

He said that the public were given priority to buy the items.

"However, each person is only allowed to buy a maximum of two kilograms of any item." (cst)