Jakarta (Antara Bali) -- The Indonesian Traditional Fishermen Association (KNTI) has refuted any claim that the fuel price hike would have no detrimental impact on fishermen and fish pond owners.

The organization said that the government did not prepare for the ramifications of the move.

"Without ignoring the question of national energy management, the KNTI expresses regret over the government's lack of preparedness in anticipating the impact of the fuel price hike on fishermen's villages," Chief of the KNTI's Advisory Council, Riza Damanik, said here on Wednesday.

The government had better improve the fuel distribution system, weather information service, fishing locations, and the price of fish at fishermen's villages, he demanded.

As seen in the past, a Rp2,000 increase in the prices of subsidized fuel leads to a fuel price hike of Rp2,500 to Rp6,000 a liter at fishermen's villages, Damanik pointed out.

"On the contrary, the price of shrimp in Lampung and that of fish in Kendal have declined," he stated, adding that a report received by the KNTI revealed that the increase in the buying price of diesel oil at fishermen's villages varied.

On Monday (November 17) night, the government reduced the subsidy for fuel and hiked the prices by Rp2,000.

Gasoline, which was earlier priced at Rp6.5 thousand per liter, now costs Rp8.5 thousand per liter, whereas subsidized diesel oil costs Rp7.5 thousand per liter, with its earlier rate being Rp5.5 thousand per liter.

The new tariffs were made effective the next day, i. e. from November 18.

Furthermore, President Jokowi stated that the government required substantial amount of funds to finance infrastructure development and improve education and healthcare services.

He added that reducing fuel subsidy and raising the prices of fuel were choices the government had to make to divert subsidies from consumptive to productive sectors, including those of infrastructure and education.(WDY)

Pewarta: Reported by Roberto Calvinantya Basuki

Editor : I Gusti Bagus Widyantara


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