Jakarta, July 4 -- Despite facing intimidation, Agriculture Minister Andi Sulaiman emphasized that he would not waver in cracking down on fraud in rice trade and distribution, aiming to prevent economic losses and advance the national food security agenda.

Sulaiman spoke of having received warnings about crossing "influential figures" who are allegedly behind the fraud recently exposed by the government.

"However, the President (Prabowo Subianto) has ordered me to deal with corruption and mafia networks in the food sector. In response, I voiced my determination to follow up on this case," he noted in a statement cited here on Friday.

Sulaiman echoed a similar sentiment during an agricultural ceremonial event in Jakarta on Monday (June ...