Antara, Jakarta – The Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) urged the Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) and police to investigate the sudden price hike of face masks amidst the novel coronavirus outbreak.

YLKI Chair, Tulus Abadi, announced that the agency received numerous complaints that question the significant price increase of N95 face masks and regular face masks. In a press release issued yesterday, Tulus regrets such "immoral and exploitative practice toward consumers' rights."

Therefore, YLKI urges the KPPU to investigate this issue. Especially after there are indications that certain businesses and distributors have taken advantage of excessive margin," said Tulus Abadi on Thursday, February 6.

Trading margin excess is overseen by Law on Unfair Competition and is legally seen as a forbidden practice. YLKI also calls for authorities to investigate mischevious face mask distributors that are suspected of hoarding its face mask supplies.

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/1304670/ylki-calls-for-investigation-on-suspicious-face-masks-price-hike