President Prabowo Subianto of Indonesia made a strong statement on Friday, emphasizing the government’s commitment to protect the public from those who take advantage of their hardships for personal gain. During his State of the Nation Address in Jakarta, he emphasized that no one, regardless of their influence or wealth, is exempt from the law.
Prabowo emphasized that the government will utilize its authority under the 1945 Constitution and Trade Law No. 7 of 2014 to combat businesses that hoard essential goods during shortages or price fluctuations. Violators could face up to five years in prison or a fine of up to 50 billion rupiah.
He made it clear that industries crucial to the well-being of the people must remain under state control, following the principles set by the nation’s founding fathers. In line with this, Prabowo announced the implementation of stricter regulations requiring large-scale rice milling operations to obtain special permits to continue operating.
The President underscored the importance of protecting the people’s access to rice in terms of quantity, quality, and affordability, stating that those who do not comply with the new regulations should consider moving into other industries. Prabowo’s announcement reflects his commitment to safeguarding the basic needs of the Indonesian population and ensuring that powerful business interests do not exploit or manipulate them for personal gain.
