Politics · Indonesia · 2 hrs ago
Eight Officials Removed After Subsidised Rice Was Repackaged as Premium
Authorities found 600 tonnes of subsidised rice at a warehouse in East Jakarta that had been repackaged or mixed and sold as premium rice.
The rice was part of Indonesia’s SPHP programme, which uses government subsidies to make rice more affordable.
Officials estimated the state lost Rp 3.3 billion in subsidies tied to the rice found.
Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman said eight officials from the food agency and state rice company Bulog were removed after a coordination meeting.
Two other officials received written warnings, and the removed officials’ roles are still being examined.
A food task force is to follow up, with further action possible if wrongdoing is established under the law.
Authorities found about 600 tonnes of subsidised SPHP rice that had been repackaged and sold as premium rice in East Jakarta.
The National Food Agency estimated the suspected misuse of subsidies could cost the state about Rp 3.3 billion.
The estimate is based on a subsidy of about Rp 5,510 per kilogram and the volume of rice found, not a final loss established through legal proceedings.
Eight officials were removed or suspended: two from the National Food Agency and six from Bulog’s Jakarta region.
Officials said the officials’ roles are still being investigated, and those found responsible could face legal action.
- Who
- Eight officials from the National Food Agency and Bulog were removed or suspended; a Bulog partner identified as RH was referred to police for examination.
- What
- About 600 tonnes of subsidised SPHP rice were allegedly repackaged and sold as premium rice, with a potential state loss of about Rp 3.3 billion.
- When
- The case was reported on October 29 and 30, 2026; the rice subsidy allocation cited was issued in mid-October 2026.
- Where
- Kayumanis, Matraman, and the Cipinang Rice Main Market in East Jakarta.
- Why
- The alleged repackaging and resale could divert the subsidy from consumers the programme is meant to help.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The National Food Agency issued Bulog an assignment for an additional 125,800 tonnes of SPHP rice, with a budget of about Rp 694.3 billion.
CNN Indonesia reported the discovery of about 600 tonnes of allegedly repackaged subsidised rice and the estimated potential loss.
Bulog said it had deactivated six Jakarta-region officials and reprimanded two others while the investigation continued.
Detik reported that eight officials from the National Food Agency and Bulog had been removed.
- Rice found
- About 600 tonnes
- Potential state loss
- About Rp 3.3 billion
- Estimated subsidy
- About Rp 5,510 per kilogram
- Officials removed
- Eight: two from the National Food Agency and six from Bulog’s Jakarta region
- Reported locations
- Kayumanis, Matraman, and the Cipinang Rice Main Market, East Jakarta
2 sources
What people are saying
Seharusnya ini dijual Rp 12.500, tapi dijual Rp 17.000. Ini bukan saya. Ini rakyat. Ini untuk orang sulit. Ini beras subsidi, tapi masih ada oknum yang bermain-main.
Ini masih pendalaman. Maksudnya begini, kalau yang bersangkutan masih ada di dalam, takutnya nanti bukti-buktinya bisa dihilangkan. Jadi dinonaktifkan dulu yang bersangkutan sampai betul-betul terbukti atau tidak.
Kemudian kami juga tadi malam langsung Zoom dengan seluruh jajaran pimwil (pimpinan wilayah), pimca (pimpinan cabang), direksi dan lain sebagainya membentuk satgas khusus penertiban beras-beras pemerintah, mengantisipasi masih adanya kejadian serupa di daerah-daerah lain.