Queueing for foodstuffs

Queueing for foodstuffs

From Neraca

The government has made all efforts to restore our economy. From accepting the IMF's conditions to the launching of the Love rupiah drive. But there are no signs yet of an economic recovery.

It is the community which is mostly affected by the plight. The rupiah is not gaining in strength and the community must bear the burden of inflated prices of the nine food staples.

People lining up to buy cooking oil or rice from the logistics agency is an everyday scene. They are resigned to queueing for hours in the torrid sun.

That is what is happening to the little people. They do not care about the rate of the rupiah against the dollar. They are only concerned about what to eat today.

In such a situation, our traders seem to remain indifferent to the public's suffering. They sell cooking oil and rice at twice the price set by the logistics agency.

Until when will the community have to bear this heavy burden? They may still be able to do so until Lebaran, at the end of January, but after the holiday? Will there still be queues for the basic foodstuffs?

It is feared that social unrest will emerge if people have to continue standing in line to buy food. Let us hope that the situation will return to normal and that no unrest will arise.

ISKANDAR

Jakarta