Jakarta, May 13 -- Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan said the government is ready to provide subsidies if the prices of imported food commodities exceed the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) amid the weakening rupiah exchange rate.

"If the prices exceed the MRP, then the government will step in to provide subsidies," Hasan said after reviewing food prices and supplies at Palmerah Market here on Wednesday.

He stated in response to the potential impact of the rupiah's weakening trend on the price of several imported food commodities, including soybeans.

Previously, the rupiah exchange rate on Tuesday (May 12) closed down 36 points, or 0.21 percent, at Rp17,532 per US dollar from Rp17,496 per US dollar.

Meanwhile...