JAKARTA – The Indonesian Competition Commission (lit. Komisi Pengawasan dan Persaingan Usaha/KPPU) focuses on monitoring commodities supply to prevent monopolistic practices nearing Eid al-Fitr this year.

Mulyawan Renamanggala, Director of Economy of KPPU, claimed that KPPU will enforce the law according to the applicable regulation should there be any disruption detected due to monopolistic practices. “KPPU will actively cooperate with several parties to reinforce the supervision and the management of anti-unhealthy business competition in the comestibles sector,” he said in a press release quoted Tuesday (21/3).

The staple commodities that fall under special monitoring include rice, cooking oil, and beef. Rice price have been seen increasing since September 2022 due to increased production price. In terms of its volume, there is actually a surplus of rice production worth 2.6 million tons in March 2023 and 800 tons in April 2023.

The cooking oil distribution until February 2023 hit 88,811 tons, covering 24.66% of total domestic market obligation (DMO). The government also provides bulk and packaged cooking oil of 450,000 tons, 50% higher than the domestic demand of 300 thousand tons of cooking oil.

Then, for beef, its production in March and April 2023 will reach 42,623 tons and 45,319 tons. The domestic demand for beef during Eid al-Fitr 2023 is projected to reach 65,987 tons in March 2023 and 69,277 tons in April 2023.

KPPU is said to start taking anticipatory initiatives in several regions, particularly monitoring supply shortage in the market and conditional sale practices. “KPPU in all regions are coordinating with the regional governments in order to stop anti-competition business practices,” Renamanggala added. (LK/ZH)