September 3, 2025 | 03:36 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung has spoken about the scarcity of premium rice, particularly in minimarkets.
"We are currently addressing the scarcity of rice. There was panic buying, and people started hoarding. I urge for the immediate normalization of the situation," said Pramono at Jakarta City Hall on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, as reported by Antara.
Panic buying refers to the act of purchasing a large quantity of goods out of fear of them running out. Pramono expressed his hope that the scarcity, particularly concerning premium rice, will be resolved soon.
He previously claimed that Jakarta's food stock is secure until October 2025 and has not been impacted by recent protests in the capital. This claim also aimed to counter rumors of a food shortage.
"There were rumors about food shortages. In Jakarta, there is enough food, even until the end of October," Pramono affirmed. "The food supply in Jakarta is abundant."
The Head of the Jakarta Food, Maritime, and Agriculture Security Agency (KPKP), Hasudungan Sidabalok, echoed this message.
He is confident that the stocks of rice and other key foods, such as beef, chicken, and eggs, will remain secure in Jakarta until at least October 2025. He provided a detailed breakdown of current availability: rice stocks are at 303,297 tons, far exceeding the demand of 156,745 tons. The stock of beef is 40,418 tons, surpassing the demand of 11,999 tons.
Similarly, the stock of chicken meat stands at 74,940 tons, while demand is only 30,176 tons. "As for eggs, the demand is 19,525 tons, and the availability is 21,478 tons. So, eggs might expire quickly, meaning they spoil fast," Hasudungan noted, alluding to their perishable nature.
The agency also confirmed that other food items, including red chilies and shallots, have sufficient stocks to meet demand.
Hasudungan further explained that the scarcity of premium rice in some minimarkets has been an ongoing issue, following the revelation of "fake rice" cases since mid-July.
In late July 2025, Tempo received information from a staff member at an Alfamart store in East Jakarta that premium rice from several brands had been removed from shelves since mid-July.
"Brands such as Sania, Topi Koki, Raja, and Food Station (FS) have been pulled," the anonymous staff member revealed. The staff explained that management had decided to remove the rice from all stores to avoid inconveniencing consumers.
At a different Alfamart location, a cashier named Fahri confirmed the reason for the absence of premium rice was the widespread "fake rice" cases. "Mainly, Sania rice is often pulled due to fake rice cases," Fahri stated.
He explained that since the news about fake rice emerged, management instructed employees to remove premium rice from the shelves. As a result, the premium rice section was filled with other products, such as cooking oil, flour, and a different brand of red rice.
Geni Al Aziz contributed to the report
Editor's Choice: Rice Prices Remain High Across Indonesia
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
Activists Face Incitement Charges After Indonesia Protests
14 menit lalu
The Jakarta Police have named Delpedro Marhaen, Executive Director of the Lokataru Foundation, and five other individuals as suspects for incitement.
Rice Prices Remain High Across Indonesia
45 menit lalu
The price of premium rice remains above the government's highest retail price (HET) in various regions.
Jakarta Police Accuse Lokataru's Delpedro Marhaen of Inciting Anarchic Protests
18 jam lalu
The police have accused Lokataru Director Delpedro Marhaen of persuading students to engage in "anarchic acts" through social media.
Top 10 Cities for Workcations in 2025: From Tokyo to Valletta
19 jam lalu
According to the International Workplace Group (IWG), Tokyo has been named the best city for a workcation in 2025.
LRT Jabodebek Operates as Normal Despite WFH Calls Following Protests
20 jam lalu
The LRT Jabodebek continues to operate and serve passengers despite the majority of government and private institutions in Jakarta implementing WFH.
Death Toll from Indonesia's Recent Waves of Protests Climbs to 10
22 jam lalu
Aside from the incident in Jakarta, riots during demonstrations in Makassar and the burning of the Regional People's Representative Council (DPRD) office have also resulted in three people being burnt to death.
Jakarta's Public Facility Damage Losses Climb to Rp80 Billion
23 jam lalu
Jakarta Governor's newly identified infrastructures include pedestrian overpasses in Pasar Senen and the Jakarta Metropolitan Police Headquarters.
Jakarta Demonstrations Lead to 1,683 Arrests According to National Human Rights Commission
1 hari lalu
The numbers calculated by National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) differs from the count by the Jakarta Metro Police. The police reported having arrested 1,240 individuals so far.
Kontras: 23 People Missing Due to Protests in Indonesia Over the Past Week
1 hari lalu
Kontras opens a post to respond to the abundance of information on missing persons during demonstrations from 25-31 August 2025.
Rising Rice Prices in Indonesia Reported by BPS in August 2025
1 hari lalu
Indonesia's Central Statistics Agency (BPS) noted that the price of rice in August 2025 increased compared to the previous year.
