Ibrahim may quit Bulog chief post by this weekend
Ibrahim may quit Bulog chief post by this weekend
JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of Food Ibrahim Hasan yesterday refused to comment on the likelihood that he will no longer chair the National Logistic Agency (Bulog) by the end of this week.
"Don't ask me such questions. I know nothing about that," he replied to questions raised by journalists after a meeting with President Soeharto at the Merdeka Palace.
A senior official, related to food management in Indonesia, told The Jakarta Post yesterday that the chairmanship of Bulog will be transferred from Ibrahim to Bedu Amang, the agency's current deputy chairman.
The official, who asked for anonymity, said that the ceremony for the transfer of the position will be carried out tomorrow.
Bedu Amang was not available for confirmation yesterday.
A rumor on the separation from the office of the state minister of food and Bulog was first aired by the Republika daily last week.
Bulog has fallen under media scrutiny since last year's harsh drought slashed Indonesia's rice production by four percent, to 46.40 million tons of unhusked rice, from the production level of 1993. Bulog is the only agency authorized to import and control the distribution of rice in the country.
Indonesia, formerly the biggest rice importer in the world, became self sufficient in 1984. Rice is the main staple diet of the Indonesian population, currently about 189 million.
Ibrahim conceded last week that the drought had cut down Bulog's rice stocks, as of last December, to around 938,000 tons, the lowest level in 15 years. As a result, Indonesia was forced to import rice last year, the first time in many years.
Intervention
Despite Bulog's market interventions, local news reports cite rice prices continuing to rise due to shortages caused by delayed monsoons which have damaged the country's first rice harvest for the year.
The price increases are also generated by rising demand prior to the Moslem Idul Fitri holiday early next month.
Ibrahim yesterday defended Bulog's policies on rice supply.
"Self-sufficiency is still safe because the rice that we import is only a small part of the rate of annual rice consumption," he said.
The minister also said that at present, the nation's rice stocks are estimated at 800,000 tons which should be adequate for six months, assuming that Bulog is not forced to release any more of its stocks.
"There is nothing to worry about considering the quantity of rice," he said without explaining why prices continue to rise.
Analysts have estimated that a minimum of 28.6 million tons of husked rice will be demanded this year. The Ministry of Agriculture has estimated that rice production this year will increase by six percent from last year's level.
Ibrahim also said that the government is aware of the news report which stated that some people do not like the taste of the imported rice, which mostly came from Myanmar.
"We know that the standard of the imported rice is lower than ours, but people should not be too picky. The government has already done the best it could," he said. (hdj)