Teenager Doused with Caustic Soda in Central Jakarta, PDIP Calls for Stricter Rules on Sale and Purchase
PDIP Deputy Chair of Commission VI of the DPR, Mufti Anam, has called on the government to tighten regulations on the sale and purchase of hazardous chemicals in response to the increasing cases of caustic soda attacks. Mufti assessed that the phenomenon of caustic soda dousings can no longer be viewed as individual crimes.
“The proliferation of caustic soda attack cases can no longer be seen as individual crimes. This has entered the category of government failure in controlling the circulation of dangerous goods,” Mufti told reporters on Tuesday (21/4/2026).
“Caustic soda is not an ordinary consumer item, but a high-risk chemical. If today it can still be bought as easily as daily goods, then there is something wrong with its trade system,” he continued.
He highlighted the weakness in oversight from upstream to downstream, starting from imports, production, distribution, to access for purchases, which he deemed still too loose. This condition, according to him, makes dangerous materials easily fall into the hands of irresponsible individuals.
“Everything should be under a strict control system. But in fact, its distribution is loose, supervision is weak, and it ends up in the wrong hands. This is what keeps causing victims to fall,” he said.
Mufti urged the Ministry of Trade (Kemendag) to take firm steps immediately. He requested that the free sale of caustic soda, both on marketplaces and offline shops, be stopped.
“Therefore, we urge the Ministry of Trade to take firm steps immediately. The free sale of caustic soda on marketplaces and general shops must be stopped. There should no longer be uncontrolled access,” he stated.
“There must be a buyer verification mechanism and clear, integrated supply chain oversight. Kemendag must not allow dangerous materials to circulate without control,” he added.
According to him, if this condition is allowed to continue, every caustic soda attack case will not only be the perpetrator’s fault but also reflect systemic negligence. He stressed that the government must not lose to free trading practices that endanger the people.
“In the upcoming session period, Commission VI will summon the Ministry of Trade to discuss this matter specifically. We want to ensure there are concrete steps, not just appeals. Because for us, protecting the public from dangers like this is not an option, but a state obligation,” he concluded.
It is known that caustic soda attack cases are quite prevalent. Caustic soda is often one of the items seized as evidence in brawl actions.
The latest incident involved a teenager in Central Jakarta who became a victim of a caustic soda dousing during a pre-dawn meal war. The victim suffered injuries leading to disability in the left eye.
In addition, there have been caustic soda attack cases that have drawn significant public attention. Among them is the 2017 caustic soda attack on Novel Baswedan. At that time, Novel was still a KPK investigator.
Then, there was also the caustic soda attack on Deputy Coordinator of KontraS Andrie Yunus in March 2026. Four TNI personnel have been named as suspects in that case and will soon be tried.