Prof. Dr. Sutan Nasomal Urges Indonesian President to Order Ministers to Eliminate the Staple Food Mafia
JAKARTA-JAYA NEWS.COM – The case of economic criminals manipulating staple foods, including oil, sugar, and nine other basic commodities, to raise prices in the free market is an old disease that can recur quickly and repeatedly, as if it were a disease that requires surgery as a final treatment.
“To neutralize this staple food case, the President of the Republic of Indonesia, General Haji Prabowo Subianto, has ordered the Minister in charge of economics to investigate the mafia who are playing with economic fire and to arrest and imprison them,” said Prof. Dr. KH. Sutan Nasomal, an international criminal law expert and economist, answering questions from editors-in-chief of print and online media at his office at the Opposition Party headquarters on Monday morning, September 15, 2025.
The price of cooking oil in Malaysia is IDR 9,000/kg and in Indonesia IDR 17,500/kg, or higher in the local market.
The price of granulated sugar in Malaysia is IDR 10,500/kg and in Indonesia IDR 18,000/kg, and can be higher in the local market.
Why are cooking oil and granulated sugar so expensive in Indonesia? Is Indonesia not yet independent in achieving food self-sufficiency?
Prof. Dr. KH. Sutan Nasomal, SH, MH, observed that unhealthy policies governing the Indonesian economy and industrial sector have resulted in high prices for many basic necessities, with prices twice as high as in neighboring countries. He answered media questions about why basic necessities are more expensive in Indonesia than in neighboring countries.
The numerous bankruptcies of sugar factories and their inability to operate are among the problems that should not be overlooked due to the failure of Indonesia’s unhealthy economic system. It is suspected that numerous mafia elements are interfering in economic and basic necessities matters. Therefore, the bankruptcy of many factories is inevitable.
There are still traces of mafia elements hoarding various basic necessities to keep prices high.
Weak oversight allows these mafia elements to play tricks with elites and law enforcement officials.
Tens of thousands of hectares of forest have been converted to oil palm plantations, but the price of cooking oil remains very high.
Economists are baffled by the fact that cooking oil prices cannot be as low as in Malaysia. Mafia elements are still playing a role in the palm oil sector, resulting in cooking oil prices remaining stubbornly low for 15 years.
The crisis in society, with its lack of purchasing power, presents a particularly complex problem when all basic food prices are so high in the market.
The public eagerly anticipates that sugar and cooking oil factories will be directly supervised by the President of the Republic of Indonesia, General Haji Prabowo Subiyanto.
No corrupt parties should manipulate the prices of basic food items, especially cooking oil and sugar.
Indonesia, rich in natural resources, agricultural plantations, and agricultural products, urgently needs special attention and the elimination of those who manipulate prices, leading to sky-high prices.**
Editorial Team
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