katarabhumi
FULL MEMBER
- Joined
- Nov 25, 2013
- Messages
- 908
- Reaction score
- 3
- Country
- Location
Susi Pudjiastuti : Many Ships evade Taxes
WEDNESDAY, 09 MARCH, 2016
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Low tax uptake from the fisheries sector has prompted Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti to launch another bold initiative. The action includes a review of vessel weights and an increase in fishery-production tax rates for bigger ships. The move is meant to make fishing firms' contribution to state coffers proportional to their incomes.
As a result of the policy, several companies have lodged protests with the House of Representatives (DPR). Susi, however, remains unfazed. At the ministerial housing complex in Widya Chandra, South Jakarta, last week, Susi said she would not hesitate to crack down on shady business practices and the players behind them.
Why is it that many big vessels are unable to operate because of your policy?
They are phony companies. The vessels aren't theirs. They are foreign ships. Our foreign ship analysis and evaluation put them on a blacklist, and the ships will finally be confiscated by the state. Those who were not put on the blacklist will be allowed to return home.
What about the companies claiming that the vessels have been legitimately purchased?
We haven't found them. If the purchases are legitimate, where's the evidence of transfer? They have all lied. We don't just impose bans. If we are mistaken, we are inviting (the aggrieved parties to file) lawsuits with the state administrative court. Even Tomy Winata has agreed to de-register his boat. Yorrys Raweyaiwas has also been silent. We've done it all properly. If further investigated, all of them will be seen as committing fraud. Then, we could just sink their vessels.
Why aren't there any taxable fishing enterprises in operation?
There's no contribution to tax because everything in the fisheries sector is illegal. No data is available. The quantity of fish is also unclear. Many big ships are put in the names of housewives, pedicab drivers or chauffeurs. We've found such practices in Bali, where there are no actual companies, no officers either. That's why we're putting it in order, as we're targeting to achieve legal, reported, and regulated fishing. Therefore, business associations shouldn't keep on raising misleading issues.
So the higher rates of fishery production tax (PHP) are meant to increase the sector's tax contribution?
Correct. Juwana wooden ships measuring 60-70 gross tons (GT), for instance, can net Rp2-3 billion in yearly income. They previously paid only Rp1-2 million in PHP. Now we've raised the amount to Rp50 million annually. This is still low. Bigger ships, like those measuring 150 GT, are subjected to taxes of Rp200 million. The rate is normal because the number of large vessels is small. So why have so many of them lodged protests? It's because they've so far been involved in markdowns.
What do you make of complaints about delays in the issuance of ship licenses?
Not everybody with money should be able build ships and be given license to fish. To do so could deplete fish stocks. Many countries have limited their fishing volumes. The National Commission for Fish Resources has established the maximum fishing volume in Indonesia at 9.5 million tons. In reality, the total has reached 15 million tons. When the quota is exceeded, we will stop licensing.
Previously, individuals applied for licenses by exerting pressure, by using connections with officials, relevant personnel or House lawmakers. We are trying to put a stop to that. This policy is meant to protect fishermen so they can get their fair share of fish again.
Susi Pudjiastuti : Many Ships evade Taxes | Interview | Tempo.Co :: Indonesian News Portal
WEDNESDAY, 09 MARCH, 2016
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Low tax uptake from the fisheries sector has prompted Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti to launch another bold initiative. The action includes a review of vessel weights and an increase in fishery-production tax rates for bigger ships. The move is meant to make fishing firms' contribution to state coffers proportional to their incomes.
As a result of the policy, several companies have lodged protests with the House of Representatives (DPR). Susi, however, remains unfazed. At the ministerial housing complex in Widya Chandra, South Jakarta, last week, Susi said she would not hesitate to crack down on shady business practices and the players behind them.
Why is it that many big vessels are unable to operate because of your policy?
They are phony companies. The vessels aren't theirs. They are foreign ships. Our foreign ship analysis and evaluation put them on a blacklist, and the ships will finally be confiscated by the state. Those who were not put on the blacklist will be allowed to return home.
What about the companies claiming that the vessels have been legitimately purchased?
We haven't found them. If the purchases are legitimate, where's the evidence of transfer? They have all lied. We don't just impose bans. If we are mistaken, we are inviting (the aggrieved parties to file) lawsuits with the state administrative court. Even Tomy Winata has agreed to de-register his boat. Yorrys Raweyaiwas has also been silent. We've done it all properly. If further investigated, all of them will be seen as committing fraud. Then, we could just sink their vessels.
Why aren't there any taxable fishing enterprises in operation?
There's no contribution to tax because everything in the fisheries sector is illegal. No data is available. The quantity of fish is also unclear. Many big ships are put in the names of housewives, pedicab drivers or chauffeurs. We've found such practices in Bali, where there are no actual companies, no officers either. That's why we're putting it in order, as we're targeting to achieve legal, reported, and regulated fishing. Therefore, business associations shouldn't keep on raising misleading issues.
So the higher rates of fishery production tax (PHP) are meant to increase the sector's tax contribution?
Correct. Juwana wooden ships measuring 60-70 gross tons (GT), for instance, can net Rp2-3 billion in yearly income. They previously paid only Rp1-2 million in PHP. Now we've raised the amount to Rp50 million annually. This is still low. Bigger ships, like those measuring 150 GT, are subjected to taxes of Rp200 million. The rate is normal because the number of large vessels is small. So why have so many of them lodged protests? It's because they've so far been involved in markdowns.
What do you make of complaints about delays in the issuance of ship licenses?
Not everybody with money should be able build ships and be given license to fish. To do so could deplete fish stocks. Many countries have limited their fishing volumes. The National Commission for Fish Resources has established the maximum fishing volume in Indonesia at 9.5 million tons. In reality, the total has reached 15 million tons. When the quota is exceeded, we will stop licensing.
Previously, individuals applied for licenses by exerting pressure, by using connections with officials, relevant personnel or House lawmakers. We are trying to put a stop to that. This policy is meant to protect fishermen so they can get their fair share of fish again.
Susi Pudjiastuti : Many Ships evade Taxes | Interview | Tempo.Co :: Indonesian News Portal