"Coupon system for fuel sale is not safe"

An analyst says the coupon system to be applied by the government to ensure that the small-income family were still able to buy cheap fuel was not safe.

Former Minister of Mines and Energy Mohammad Sadli said if the government went ahead with its plan to apply the coupon system, it should tightly supervise the distribution of the coupons to prevent rich people from benefiting them.

"We understand the difficulties faced by the government. But I warned the government against the possibility that coupons would be used by those who are not entitled to the government subsidy," he was quoted by Neraca as saying.

Secretary general of the Ministry of Mines and Energy Djoko Darmono said the government would carefully study the coupon system before implementing it.

He added aside from the coupon system, the government had been preparing several alternative systems, but he did not specify them.

Under the coupon system, poor people will receive coupons from the government, with which they will still be able to buy cheap fuel when the government raise fuel prices starting April this year. (*)