President Wants Beef Price to Fall in the Days

Jakarta (Antara) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono admitted on Saturday he lost patience with his ministers' efforts to lower the skyrocketing beef price ahead of the Muslim holiday of Lebaran and wanted to see a change in a few days. "I think my instruction is quite clear, and so is the vice president's. The coordinating minister for economic affairs has chaired several meetings but the implementation (of their decision) is very slow. Frankly speaking, I lose my patience as the people do," he said. In response to the skyrocketing beef price which hit a record high of above Rp90,000 a kg in several parts of the country, the President on Saturday called a meeting with a number of relevant ministers at Halim Perdanakusuma Airport here upon his arrival from a visit to West Nusa Tenggara province. "This meeting must be action-oriented. I want to see a change in the next few days. We want to set a target we must achieve," he said while asking his ministers to monitor the beef price in the market and on the social media. He said the question of beef price still surrounded the lengthy bureaucracy and licensing. "I talked with the trade minister yesterday to ask where is the permit? Here, here in our country. If we get it in New York or Geneva it may take long time. This is our own business. We must not blame each other," he said. He said before the decision to reduce fuel subsidy was taken, Vice President Boediono and Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa had reminded the ministers of their duties to maintain price stability. He said he realized the seasonal increase in the prices of such commodities as red chili ahead of the Idul Fitri. "But where beef is concerned it (its rising price) is not seasonal. We have discussed it since a long time ago," he said. Also present at the meeting were Vice President Boediono, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa, Minister/State Secretary Sudi Silalahi, Industry Minister MS Hidayat, Agriculture Minister Suswono, Cabinet Secretary Dipo Alam, Finance Minister Chatib Basri, Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan, and Head of the State Logistics Board (Bulog) Sutarto Alimuso. (*)