No Room for Greed! Stop Mask Hoarding amid Krakatoa Ashfall Surge

Jakarta Legislative Council Commission D Chairwoman, Yuke Yurike has launched a fierce warning against manufacturers and sellers exploiting the Mount Anak Krakatau volcanic eruption, demanding an immediate halt to mask hoarding amid surging public demand.

This is a shared tragedy, not a business opportunity

Stockpiling masks, Yuke warned, threatens to trigger severe market shortages and reckless price-gouging at a moment when residents need protection the most.

"This is a shared tragedy, not a business opportunity. Exploiting a disaster for quick cash is completely unacceptable," she declared, Thursday (9/10).

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She pointed out that the surge in mask demand extends far beyond Jakarta, as multiple regions struggling with widespread forest fires also face critical shortages.

Recalling recent relief efforts for forest fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan, she revealed that sourcing bulk masks was already an uphill battle—a clear warning sign against suppliers holding back inventory.

“I strongly hope suppliers and distributors refrain from gaming the market or hiking prices. This is a shared disaster that requires a united response," she urged.

To stop illegal stockpiling before it starts, Yuke pressed municipal agencies to tighten field oversight with regular, unannounced inspections from factory floors to wholesale hubs.

She urged authorities to launch proactive market sweeps immediately, ensuring no supplier creates artificial scarcity to line their pockets.

“We need spot-checks right now to tackle this early. Letting hoarding go unchecked will only leave thousands of residents unprotected,” she concluded.

She singled out major wholesale hubs like Asemka and Pramuka markets as prime targets for spot checks if any signs of hoarding emerge.

“Key manufacturing sites, distribution hubs, and major wholesale hubs—like Asemka and Pramuka—should undergo random inspections to catch anyone secretly stockpiling inventory,” she noted.

She stressed that maintaining a stable mask supply is critical for vulnerable populations. Airborne volcanic ash, she added, poses severe health risks to the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions.

“We can't tolerate panic stockpiling while lives are on the line. For seniors and individuals with underlying health issues, going without protection is genuinely life-threatening," she stated.