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Home Minister urges local leaders to help control inflation ahead of regional elections
Indonesia posted year-on-year inflation of 1.71 percent in October, which was within the government’s target.
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Home Minister Tito Karnavian (right) leads a coordination meeting to control inflation at the Home Ministry in Jakarta on Nov. 4, 2024. (Courtesy of Home Ministry/-)
H
ome Minister Tito Karnavian has urged regional governments to work to keep the inflation rate stable ahead of the regional elections on Nov. 27.
During a coordination meeting with regional leaders on Monday, Tito said Indonesia had a good record in inflation control, with a relatively stable inflation rate at the national level. In October, the country posted year-on-year inflation of 1.71 percent, within the government’s target.
Tito said the stable inflation rate was the result of good cooperation between central and local leadership.
“[Indonesia’s inflation rate is] one of the best in the world and controlled relatively well because, among other reasons, [leaders] across the regions are moving [to make it work]. In the past, many didn’t understand inflation and were not even involved,” Tito said in Jakarta, as quoted by Antara.
“Of 186 countries in the world, we rank 57th [in terms of inflation rate stability], which is relatively controlled. In several countries, based on our observations, such as Argentina, [the inflation rate has at times stood at] 209 percent and dollarization has happened. Their local currency is no longer valuable. In Syria, Sudan and Palestine, which are currently at war, the inflation rate is out of control, increasing by 60 percent,” Tito added.
At the meeting, which was a hybrid event, Tito warned regional leaders about the possibility of rice shortages as some regional leader candidates might purchase the commodity in large quantities to give to their constituents. He pointed out that such shortages had occurred in previous regional elections.
Tito promised to coordinate with regional leaders to secure the distribution chain of basic commodities during the regional elections. The minister asked regional leaders to supervise the commodity supply at markets until the regional election period ends.
