Jakarta, May 26 -- Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan inspected cheap market operations at five locations in Sidoarjo, East Java, as Indonesia moved to curb rising food prices ahead of Eid al-Adha.

Hasan said the program followed President Prabowo Subianto's directive to prevent spikes in staple food prices during major religious holidays, according to a statement issued Tuesday.

The government held the subsidized market operation on May 25, involving regional administrations, lawmakers, the military, police and other agencies to help reduce household spending pressures.

Under the program, the government sold 5-kilogram packs of rice through the Food Supply and Price Stabilization, or SPHP, scheme for Rp50,000 (US$3....