JAKARTA – The Minister of Home Affairs Muhammad Tito Karnavian asked regions with high inflation rates to immediately take appropriate steps to control inflation.
This is because high inflation rates can damage the structure of the economy and can lead to instability in food prices in the market.
“Although inflation has improved, nationally it is 3.52 percent, last week it was explained by BPS that the figures at the regional level also vary, some are very low, and we are grateful for that, but there are also (regions) which are high, some are up to 6 percent, 5 percent,” said Tito while chairing the Regional Inflation Control Coordination Meeting at the Ministry of Home Affairs’ Sasana Bhakti Praja Building, Jakarta, Monday (10/7).
Tito said, there are several regions with high inflation rates. These regions include Merauke (5.91%), Timika (5.75%), Kotabaru (5.04%), Luwuk (4.90%), and Manokwari (4.1%).
“We also have regions with low inflation rates, between 1 and 2.86 percent, Jambi is the lowest (1.96%), Gorontalo, West Sulawesi, Riau, North Sumatra, Riau Islands, Aceh, Bangka Belitung, Belitung and South Sumatra,” he continued.
Judging these conditions, he then appealed to regions with low inflation rates to maintain their condition going forward.
This is because low and stable inflation is a prerequisite for sustainable economic growth. That way, it is expected to provide benefits for improving people’s welfare.
High inflation, on the other hand, can have a negative impact on the socio-economic conditions of the people.
“So, variety, everyone. It shouldn’t make us complacent, especially regions with high inflation rates. Regions with low inflation rates, keep going. Regions with high inflation rates must make moves,” he added.
For regions with high inflation, Tito appealed to immediately look for the root of the problem, especially from the supply and demand side.
“Do efforts to find out what the problem is. Is the supply lacking? Are the goods lacking? Are the goods scarce or is the distribution not working so that there is a buildup? Or maybe transportation is hampered?” he said.
Another regions in Indonesia with high inflation rates include Maluku (6.07%), North Maluku (5.37%), East Java (4.59%), East Nusa Tenggara (4.58%), Sulawesi South (4.43%), West Papua (4.30%), South Kalimantan (4.30%), Special Province of Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta (4.20%), and Papua (4.13%).
