Fact Check: Did Indonesia Plan to Sell Rice to Malaysia for Rp10,000 per Kilogram?

Social media platforms are abuzz with claims that Indonesia intends to export rice to Malaysia at a price of Rp10,000 per kilogram, a figure significantly lower than Indonesia's domestic Highest Retail Price (HET). Current regulations set the HET for premium rice between Rp14,900 and Rp15,800 per kilogram. However, investigations by Tempo reveal that no definitive agreement on the export price has been reached. State logistics agency Bulog has guaranteed that any final price will be higher than the domestic HET, aiming to protect farmers and increase state revenue.

A digitally manipulated image of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim shaking hands has been widely shared. The original photo was taken during their meeting at the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur on January 27, 2025, where discussions centered on bilateral relations, particularly labor cooperation. The rice export plan was not part of their official agenda at that time.

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We will see how things look after the discussion there [in Malaysia]. Will it be a port-to-port arrangement, or will they purchase directly from us at Tanjung Priok Port?

President Prabowo himself addressed the potential rice exports during an event on May 16, 2026, urging Bulog's president director, Ahmad Rizal Ramdhani, not to sell Indonesian rice too cheaply abroad. Bulog is planning a visit to Sarawak, Malaysia, to finalize details of the export proposal. Ramdhani reiterated that the export price will be positioned above the domestic HET. Bulog's Public Relations Manager, Tomi Wijaya, confirmed that the Rp10,000 per kilogram price is unfounded and that the export plan is still in its exploratory stages, with no agreement on volume or pricing yet established.

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The rice export plan to Malaysia is still in its exploratory stages, so no agreement has been reached regarding either volume or pricing.