Moslem community minimarket opens in Pulo Gadung

JAKARTA (JP): A Moslem community cooperative and minimarket officially opened Saturday in Pulo Gadung, East Jakarta.

The cooperative, called Laa Roiba, is designed to help reduce poverty by providing loans to small-scale traders.

The minimarket of the same name sells halal (allowed under Islamic teachings) food.

Both Kayu Putih subdistrict enterprises were set up by the East Jakarta branch of the Association of Indonesian Moslem Intellectuals (ICMI).

Minister of Food Ibrahim Hasan officially dedicated the cooperative and minimarket on Saturday.

The chairman of the Jakarta chapter of ICMI, Lt. Gen. (ret) Achmad Tirtosudiro and several members of the executive board of the Indonesian Ulemas Council were present at the opening.

Laa Roiba's manager, Hely Mulyaningsih, told The Jakarta Post that the cooperative will lend money from initial capital of Rp 19 million (US$8,158).

It will also provide free consultation for traders, mostly local vegetable vendors.

"The money lent is without interest. It is lent on a profit sharing basis," Hely added.

The traders are given 100 days to return the money, she said.

"Since we started our program two weeks ago, we have distributed Rp 14 million to 75 traders," Hely said.

The loans ranged from Rp 150,00 to Rp 200,000.

"We judge them by prior survey of their business prospects and their credibility," she said.

Hely expressed hope that Laa Roiba will help poor people who find it difficult to get loans from banks.

Regarding the minimarket, Hely said that Laa Roiba is planning to open six branches, one of which will be on Jl. Baling-Baling in Walangan, Tanjung Priok.

"Laa Roiba will only market food and products that have been approved by the Indonesian Ulemas Council," she said.

Minister Ibrahim said that as people grow more prosperous, they seek assurance that the food they consume is in line with their beliefs. However this is difficult with more and more food being imported, he said.

Laa Roiba, which translates as "no doubts", guarantees that the food it sells is safe for consumers, even though the Law on Food regarding protection of consumers has yet to be passed, the minister said.

Ideally, he said, the distribution of food should be controlled by consumers.

The minimarket does not sell cigarettes, which are considered makruh (not advisable) by Islamic teachings, Agus Soetomo, one of the ICMI branch executives said.

Both the minimarket and the cooperative are located at Jl. Bangunan Timur No. 14, which also houses the secretariat of ICMI's East Jakarta branch. (26)