Jambi, West Sumatra, Bangka Belitung, Riau and Aceh have recorded the highest inflation rates in Indonesia. Jambi became the area with the highest inflation reaching 8.55 percent. The province of Jambi is cautious at 8.55 percent. West Sumatra is at 8.01 percent; Bangka Belitung is 7.77 percent; Riau is 7.04 percent; Aceh is 6.97 percent.
This fact has been warned by President Joko Widodo during the opening of the 2022 National Coordination Meeting for Inflation Control, broadcasted from the Presidential Secretariat’s YouTube on Thursday, August 18. President Widodo also warned that he would directly ask about the regional inflation rates during his working visit to the region. Additionally, if there are factors or parties that can cause an increase in prices, then the local government must immediately find a solution.
On this occasion, Jokowi also asked the Central Inflation Control Team (TPIP) and the Regional Inflation Control Team (TPID) to monitor the prices of basic necessities more frequently.
Furthermore, Widodo said if the problem is the scarcity of supply, then regions with excess supply of basic needs can share. “They should check what prices are rising which causes inflation. It could be rice, it could be red onions, it could be chili, or others. The regional head should check with TPIP on which regions have an abundant supply of that commodity.” This must be connected, because our country is very big,” he said.
The former governor of DKI Jakarta also mentioned five provinces whose inflation is still very high, even above 5 percent. Widodo asked regional heads in the region to be careful.
Meanwhile, national economic issues observer, TW Deora said President Jokowi must pay attention to the inflation because it can trigger national economic uncertainty and political instability, “The highest inflation can occur if it has gaps among supply and demand circle,” he said.
Furthermore, TW Deora explained that several things can make the economy unstable such as economic distortion, uncontrollable price, the uncertainty of law and political conditions, the maneuver of economic oligarchy and plutarchy, monopoly, unuseful economic discretion, and lack of central bank control.
