House votes against tax inquiry proposal

Stop paying taxes: A legislator holds a sticker saying “stop paying taxes” distributed by an NGO during a plenary session at the House of Representatives. Endorsement of the tax graft inquiry proposal fell short by two votes on Tuesday. (R. Berto Wedhatama)

The House of Representatives voted Tuesday evening against the proposal for tax inquiry, with those rejecting it winning very slightly over those in support.

Some 266 of 530 legislators attending the Tuesday House plenary session voted against the proposal while 264 legislators voted to support it.

All members of the Democratic Party, the National Mandate Party (PAN), the United Development Party (PPP) and the Gerindra Party in attendance rejected the proposal, while all Golkar Party, Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and Hanura Party legislators who were present voted in support.

Two National Awakening Party (PKB) politicians voiced their support for the proposal, but the other 26 cadres in attendance rejected it.

The proposal seeks to form a legislative inquiry on corruption within the Indonesian taxation system.