JAKARTA – Minister of Home Affairs Muhammad Tito Karnavian asked regions with relatively high inflation rates to continue to take control measures.
Because, even though the national inflation control figures continue to show positive developments, conditions in each region still vary.
He conveyed this message while chairing the Regional Inflation Control Coordination Meeting at the Sasana Bhakti Praja Building, Ministry of Home Affairs Headquarters, Tuesday (4/7).
He revealed that the Statistics Indonesia (BPS) recorded the year-on-year inflation rate in June 2023 decreased to 3.52 percent from the previous month’s 4 percent.
“This is pretty well under control, and the President thanked us at the meeting yesterday. We convey this to all colleagues, it could happen because of cooperation from the central and the regional governments,” said Tito.
However, he asked regions whose inflation was still above 3.52 percent to continue to strengthen coordination with various related parties.
That is important to be done to find the causes of high inflation as well as monitor evaluation and control interventions.
Furthermore, Tito said that commodity prices that in general needed to be controlled were purebred chicken meat, purebred chicken eggs, corn, garlic, and chilies.
For short-term control, various components at both the central and regional levels will continue to carry out market operations.
In addition, he encouraged the Food Task Force in the regions to routinely check the prices of various commodities, such as cooking oil, at the level of large distributors to retailers.
If the task force finds a significant price increase, he said, it can immediately find the cause and take action.
“Whether the supply is lacking or there is fraudulent hoarding or because the distribution is jammed, appropriate interventions can be made,” Tito explained.
He warned that the potential for inflationary volatility still exists, so this needs to be watched out for. Moreover, inflation is closely related to the political and security situation.
If the goods are available and the price is affordable, the community will be relatively calm.
“But if the price of goods rises, especially when it is difficult to find, it is not available in the market, it is very easy to trigger problems that can quickly explode,” he added.
Tito admitted that he did not mean to scare the impact as well as the potential for inflation. However, this is believed to be a problem that needs to be addressed.
Therefore, in accordance with President Jokowi’s directives, the Ministry of Home Affairs continues to consistently hold Regional Inflation Control Coordination Meetings.
“He (Mr. President) said, once we get out of control (over inflation) it will be difficult to get the control back, so it will continue to be controlled beforehand,” he concluded.
