TV report sparks panic, hardship

TV report sparks panic, hardship

From Republika

A private television station aired on Jan. 8 a scene showing customers in Jakarta jostling each other to buy canned milk powder. The store owner was forced to limit purchases to three cans of milk powder per customer.

Watching this, my wife became very worried. We have five small children who still drink milk of a certain brand. She instructed me to go to the market to buy a few cans of milk, for fear that it would be sold out, as it was in Jakarta.

That evening I hurried to the store hoping there was still milk left and that the stores would still be open. Luckily the store where we usually go was open and there were still many customers about. I grabbed some milk powder and had the usual Rp. 9,500 per can ready to pay only to be struck dumb to hear that the price of a can of milk powder had been increased to Rp 16,500. Apparently the store's owner had watched the same TV broadcast which showed the panic in Jakarta.

To my disappointment I was only able to buy two cans of milk. Because of this my children have to drink less milk than usual, with the risk that their health may deteriorate. My wife and I also have had to adjust the pattern of our food consumption accordingly.

I don't mean to be dramatic, but I have a hard time ahead of me because I have been laid off from my job for unclear reasons. Maybe the crisis has forced the company to reduce its number of employees.

Only the rich can afford to buy sufficient daily necessities now.

It is obvious that TV broadcasts can influence the behavior of individuals in society. I therefore appeal to the Information Minister to supervise negative TV broadcasts so as not to worsen the prevailing economic and monetary crisis.

Rich and poor alike in cities and in villages should make a concerted effort to overcome the economic turmoil.

H. AHMAD HUMAIDI

Palembang, South Sumatra