Latief says: Eat less chili

Latief says: Eat less chili

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Manpower Abdul Latief has a recipe ow his own to reduce the escalating price of chili, a source of complaint by housewives, and the subject of numerous newspaper editorials in the past two weeks.

"Just eat less chili," Latief told reporters yesterday during a break at a hearing with the House of Representatives, Antara reported.

Latief was particularly upset at the way news reports compared the price of chili, which hit Rp 20,000 a kilogram in some markets, with the government-set minimum wage, which is Rp 4,600 a day for workers in Jakarta.

"I think if we all stop eating chili, the price will come down," said Latief, who hails from West Sumatra famed for hot Padang food.

Latief said he does not each that much chili, something which many of his friends find hard to believe.

"But then, I'm a Padang Betawi," he said. Betawi is the original ethnic group of Jakarta. (emb)