Food prices

From Media Indonesia

Most days I used to eat nasi uduk (rice cooked in coconut milk and served with condiments) for breakfast at a stall close to my office. This delicious food was very reasonably priced. The stall was popular in my office, even among the white-collar workers. Nasi uduk holds a special place in people's hearts as a typical Betawi delicacy.

On Feb. 18 the owner of the stall charged me Rp 1,800 instead of the usual Rp 1,300. Aware of the general increase in prices, I was surprised that the stall owner had not yet raised her price. Perhaps she was afraid of losing the custom of her regular clientele.

Although the rupiah exchange rate against the U.S. dollar has been very volatile, the stall owner buys all her goods in rupiah, not in dollars. When the rupiah strengthens against the dollar, why do foodstuffs maintain their price? Price rises have come at a time when our government is facing serious problems and requires the support of all to overcome them.

Why do people continue to hoard foodstuffs? They can set prices at will, forcing the government to monitor prices and launch operations to supply basic commodities to the poor.

It is the little people who bear the brunt of suffering caused by this behavior.

I appeal to the youth of this country to help the government and the logistics agency distribute food in areas that have not been covered so far.

LUKMAN HAKIM

Tangerang, West Java