Puan Criticises Fuel and Cooking Oil Price Hikes: This Burdens the People!

House of Representatives Speaker Puan Maharani has spotlighted the rise in essential commodity prices stemming from global geopolitical dynamics. She urged the government to implement control and mitigation measures, as the situation is burdensome for the public. “Global geopolitical conflicts are now impacting the national economy, including surges in energy prices and several essential goods. This condition undoubtedly burdens the people, especially those from lower economic groups,” Puan stated in her remarks, quoted on Thursday, 23 April 2026. As is known, Indonesia is currently facing soaring prices for several commodities. On the energy front, the government has recently significantly increased prices for non-subsidised fuels (BBM). Most recently, non-subsidised LPG prices have officially risen by up to 18% following shortages of subsidised LPG stocks in many regions over the past few weeks. Additionally, cooking oil prices have been steadily climbing in recent times. The surge in cooking oil prices is triggered by the rising cost of the main raw material, crude palm oil (CPO), which continues to strengthen in the global market. The national average price has increased from Rp19,358 to Rp19,592 per litre, though prices have been recorded as high as Rp60,000 per litre in Intan Jaya Regency, Papua. Regarding this, Puan assessed that the cooking oil price hikes occurring in more than half of Indonesia’s regions must be viewed from a perspective closest to people’s daily lives. Moreover, fuel price increases are adding to the burdens families must bear. Although the current BBM hikes apply only to non-subsidised types, Puan noted that the government also needs to consider on-the-ground conditions. “The same situation applies to LPG. And as we all know, increases in BBM or LPG will certainly have ripple effects on other commodity prices. This affects people’s purchasing power,” Puan added. To this end, Puan called on the government to promptly take steps to control prices. “If not controlled quickly, these increases could trigger expectations of further price rises for other goods in the market. This will add to the burdens on a society already facing tough economic conditions,” emphasised the granddaughter of Bung Karno.