Prabowo Demands Staple Food Prices Remain Stable Ahead of Ramadan and Eid
President Prabowo Subianto has instructed that the prices of nine essential staple commodities must not increase during Ramadan and Eid festivities this year. The directive was conveyed during a meeting with Coordinating Minister for Food Supply Zulkifli Hasan, known as Zulhas, at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Monday, 2 March 2026.
According to Zulhas, Prabowo instructed him to ensure food stock stability during the Ramadan period. “We must ensure that during the fasting month and Eid this year, food stocks are monitored strictly,” said the chairman of the National Mandate Party following the meeting.
Prabowo also requested that Zulhas visit and monitor various government programmes. “I have been instructed to conduct field visits to ensure food security, rice support programmes, village cooperatives, and waste management are running smoothly,” he stated.
Zulhas noted that the head of state also wants food and staple prices to remain stable. “Certainly, staples during fasting and Eid must be available, affordable, and prices must not increase,” he said.
The meeting was also attended by Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia. Before the meeting, Bahlil said Prabowo wanted to discuss the current geopolitical situation. “Likely concerning current conditions,” said the chairman of the Golkar Party.
Specifically, Bahlil highlighted the closure of the Strait of Hormuz in Iran due to conflict with Israel and the United States. According to him, the closure of this critical global oil supply distribution route requires anticipation from the Indonesian government. “Because regardless, we are still importing fuel before Eid,” he noted.
Bahlil said he would meet with the National Energy Council to discuss mitigation of the Strait of Hormuz closure. “Tomorrow I will meet with the National Energy Council, and then I will present the results of analysis and assessment from the council,” he said.
Global crude oil prices surged on Monday, 2 March trading amid escalating conflict between the United States and Israel against Iran. The price increase was driven by the closure of one of the world’s vital oil trading routes, the Strait of Hormuz, by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).
According to Trading Economics data, Brent crude oil prices surged up to 12 per cent on Monday morning at market opening. Brent crude oil prices reached US$78.2 per barrel, up from the close on 28 February at US$72.8 per barrel.
Meanwhile, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil prices rose to approximately US$71.9 per barrel, up from the close on 28 February 2026 at US$67.2 per barrel.
Tensions in the Middle East escalated after the United States and Israel launched a combined attack on Iran on Saturday, 28 February 2026. United States President Donald Trump announced that the attack killed Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran retaliated by launching waves of missiles and drones at Israel and several Middle Eastern military bases where US forces operate.
The conflict has shown no signs of abating. According to Daily Mail reporting on 2 March 2026, Donald Trump revealed that a potential war with Iran could last for the next four weeks.