Government to Cease Use of Minyakita for Food Assistance

Minister of Trade Budi Santoso stated that the government will not use Minyakita cooking oil as part of food assistance. “Everything will be distributed to traditional markets so that the public can easily obtain Minyakita,” Budi said at the Ministry of Trade office on Monday, 8 June 2026.

Budi emphasised that Minyakita is not a subsidised cooking oil, but rather a government programme to provide affordable food. Minyakita is sourced from the Domestic Market Obligation (DMO) of crude palm oil (CPO) exporters.

Regarding food assistance, Budi noted that the products provided are not fixed. This means the government can distribute different types of goods to beneficiaries, rather than being limited to the items commonly provided.

Budi added that food assistance can also serve as a method for the government to maintain the stability of food prices. He cited an example where, if the price of chicken eggs drops significantly, the government can utilise that commodity as food assistance to stimulate demand.