BANDUNG, unpas.ac.id – The increase of non-subsidized fuel, Pertamax, last April, triggered a massive migration of Pertamax consumers to subsidized fuel, Pertalite. Due to this fact, the government decided to limit the purchase of Pertalite.
The government also applies subsidized fuel purchases using the My Pertamina application. The goal is to record and limit the purchases, so it can be a reference to make the distribution of Pertalite right on target.
Economics expert of Universitas Pasundan, Acuviarta Kartabi, assessed that the government needs to anticipate restrictions on the purchase of Pertalite because it is feared that it will disrupt the economy and increase inflation.
The restriction/limitation of Pertalite purchase, he continued, was the effect of the increase of Pertamax price. This was also influenced by the rising of the price of commodity, such as red chillies, onions, garlic and other vegetables.
“It also gives impact to the inflation, because people may probably be forced to purchase Pertamax, and then having them burdened on the product’s price that they produced,” he said, on Thursday, 30 June 2022.
Slowing the Economy Down
The condition also slows the economy down, since it automatically affects to the increasing price of transportation fares and other commodities.
Though people do not force themselves to get used to Pertamax, there could still be speculation to claim the increasing fare of transportation. “It is this speculation aspect that needs to be paid attention to. It needs much better evaluation related the improvement of commodity as the effect of Pertalite restriction/limitation,” he continued.
According to him, although there is a siting on the demand on Pertamax, but it is not more than people’s purchasing power which is still very low.
“This is one of the factors which suppresses the economy condition of commodity increase. Because I think, from the income’s point of view, there is no change that is quite proper with the increase itself,” he said.
Needing Alternatives, Other than by Using Application
Mentioned about the regulation of purchasing Pertalite by using application, while not all people have it and can access it easily, he said, the government needs to prepare alternatives to facilitate transactions.
“I think we need an alternative, at least in terms of applications that are easier to control/use so that they can be monitored. At the gas station location, facilities or transaction facilities must also be provided to anticipate people who do not have cell-phones and find it difficult to adapt to this change,” he said.
He said that the application of restrictions on the purchase of Pertalite needed to be classified, both for private consumers and for business, which had an impact on the economy.
“If is is generalized, what about vehicles used for economic activities? There must be a classification in the restrictions on the purchase of Pertalite,” he concluded. (Reta)**
