Jakarta (ANTARA) – Trade Minister Budi Santoso stated that he has coordinated with trade associations nationwide to ensure commodity supply stability amid the protests that engulfed various cities in Indonesia.”We have coordinated with (trade) associations to ensure supply stability, including those in regions,” Santoso stated at the Agriculture Ministry Office here on Saturday.During the coordination, the entrepreneurs have expressed their readiness to continue their distribution normally, he said, adding that no complaints about supply disruption have been received so far.Santoso also assured residents that the stock of various commodities remains sufficient despite the current unrest and cautioned against panic buying.”All products and needs in retail or markets are secured. The stocks are secured,” the minister remarked.Meanwhile, the Indonesian Retailers and Shopping Center Tenants Association (HIPPINDO) has expressed support for government efforts to safeguard the public in shopping centers amid recent protests.In a statement on Saturday in Jakarta, HIPPINDO Chairman Budihardjo Iduansjah urged all parties to exercise restraint, prioritize safety, and help maintain public order.”HIPPINDO supports the government’s measures to guarantee public safety, including securing shopping centers, vital infrastructure, and ensuring the smooth distribution of logistics and essential goods. This is critical to keep services to the public running without disruption,” he said.The association also called on the government to ensure security at key public activity centers while engaging in constructive dialogue to listen to public concerns.A new wave of protests erupted on Friday (August 29) in multiple Indonesian cities after the death of 21-year-old Affan Kurniawan, an online motorcycle taxi driver, who was struck and killed by a police tactical vehicle during a demonstration near the Parliament Complex in Jakarta the previous day.Friday’s demonstrations in Jakarta centered on the Parliament Complex in Central Jakarta and the Jakarta Metropolitan Police Headquarters in South Jakarta. Protests also spread to Bandung, Surakarta, Yogyakarta, and Makassar.By nightfall, many protests escalated into violence. Rioters damaged public facilities, while in Makassar (South Sulawesi) and Mataram (West Nusa Tenggara), local parliament buildings were reportedly set on fire.
Trade Minister takes action to ensure supply stability amid protests
