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 declared that the government would not hesitate to take over “rogue” rice milling operations and transfer them to Merah Putih Village/Urban Cooperatives. This move is in line with Article 33 of the 1945 Constitution, which emphasizes the importance of Indonesia’s national economy and the welfare of its people. President Prabowo stated his commitment to taking action against rice millers who do not comply with national interests, invoking legal measures to seize mills and hand them over to cooperatives. The recent regulatory actions have stabilized the farmers’ terms of trade, but a new issue arose with fake blends of rice labeled as “premium.” This led to the President ordering an investigation by the Attorney General’s Office and the National Police. Reports have shown that fraudulent practices by a few business groups are causing annual losses of IDR 100 trillion to the Indonesian people. President Prabowo condemned these actions as betrayals of the nation and called for firm legal action to be taken against those responsible.
President Prabowo Vows to Crack Down on Rogue Rice Millers
