Appreciating President Prabowo’s Order to Revoke the Ban on Retailers Selling 3 Kg LPG
By: Farrel Haroon Jabar )*
The government’s decision to revoke the ban on retailers selling 3 kg LPG confirms that the interests of the community remain the main priority. Direct instructions from President Prabowo Subianto to the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) show the government’s alertness in responding to public complaints that are starting to have difficulty obtaining subsidized LPG. This step also reflects that the government is open to criticism and quick to take action in the interests of the people.
Deputy Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives Sufmi Dasco Ahmad emphasized that President Prabowo has directed ESDM to immediately reactivate retailers so that they can sell as usual.
This is done to ensure that the distribution of 3 kg LPG remains smooth and prices remain stable at the community level. The decision also aims to accommodate retailers in the official distribution system by making them sub-bases, so that price regulations can be more controlled. With this policy, the public can again access subsidized LPG more easily without having to face long queues or soaring prices.
The decision also indicates that the policy of banning retailers did not come directly from the President. Prabowo assessed that the situation on the ground required immediate intervention so that the public would not have more difficulty obtaining 3 kg LPG.
Therefore, retailers are again allowed to sell with a more structured system to ensure that prices remain affordable and supplies are available in various regions. This decision is not just a short-term response, but also part of the government’s steps in organizing a better energy distribution system in the future.
Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia said that the President’s instructions include three main things. First, the distribution of 3 kg LPG must be right on target so that the subsidy is truly enjoyed by those who are entitled.
Second, sales management must be better so that there is no shortage. Third, the public’s need for LPG must be met immediately without any bureaucratic obstacles that slow down distribution.
The government is trying to ensure that the supply of 3 kg LPG is available in various regions, so that the public does not have difficulty obtaining the fuel that is so needed in everyday life. Thus, this new regulation not only restores the role of retailers but also ensures a neater and more effective system in distributing subsidized LPG.
The government’s quick move has received appreciation from various parties, including political observer Iwan Setiawan. According to him, Prabowo’s decision reflects the attitude of a leader who truly listens to the aspirations of the people.
He considered that the previous policy of banning retailers had actually triggered polemics and protests from the public due to uneven distribution and increasing difficulties in obtaining 3 kg LPG.
Long queues in various regions are an indication that the policy needs to be evaluated so as not to make things even more difficult for the public. The quick response in canceling this ban proves that the government is not only making policies from a closed room, but also based on dynamics in the field.
The government also emphasized that the stock of 3 kg LPG remains available and is not experiencing a shortage as widely reported on social media. Dasco ensured that the government is currently reorganizing distribution regulations so that the price of 3 kg LPG remains stable and does not burden the public, both at the depot and retail levels.
With more structured regulations, the price of LPG is expected to remain affordable for people who depend on subsidized fuel. In addition, the government also plans to carry out strict supervision of distribution so that there are no deviations that could harm the wider community.
This decision shows that the government always listens to people’s complaints and takes quick steps to address problems that arise in society. By reorganizing the 3 kg LPG distribution system and accommodating the existence of retailers as part of the sub-base, the government is trying to maintain a balance between stock availability and price affordability. This action is also a strategic step to ensure that energy subsidies can truly be utilized by people in need.
This step is also real evidence that every policy taken is always oriented towards people’s welfare and maintaining economic stability. In the future, the government is committed to continuing to improve regulations related to the distribution of 3 kg LPG to be more transparent, efficient, and on target.
