President of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, issued a stern warning to rice milling businesses engaged in manipulative pricing practices that harm farmers and the public. He emphasized his commitment to Article 33 of the 1945 Constitution, which establishes the foundation of Indonesia’s national economy and the welfare of its people. The government will not hesitate to take over “rogue” rice milling operations and transfer them to Merah Putih Village/Urban Cooperatives.
During the launch of the Merah Putih Village Cooperative in Klaten, President Prabowo stated that rice milling is a vital sector for the country and the livelihood of the people. Any refusal to comply with national interests will result in the government invoking legal measures to seize mills and hand them over to cooperatives. Recent reports revealed that some rice millers were making profits of up to IDR 2 trillion per month during the harvest season, leading the government to take regulatory action to stabilize farmers’ terms of trade.
A new issue emerged when rice labeled as “premium” was found to be fake blends. President Prabowo denounced this as a criminal offense and ordered an investigation by the Attorney General’s Office and the National Police. Reports indicated that fraudulent practices by a few business groups caused annual losses of IDR 100 trillion to the Indonesian people, prompting the president to call for firm legal action against betrayals of the nation.
President Prabowo condemned such actions as attempts to keep Indonesia weak and poor, declaring it an act of treason against the nation and the people. He reaffirmed his commitment to upholding the Constitution and enforcing the law to ensure the welfare and prosperity of the Indonesian people.
