resident Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has instructed local administrations to take concrete measures to combat illegal levies, highlighting that Indonesia has been too permissive of the economically harmful practice.
During a coordination meeting with 34 governors throughout the country at the State Palace in Jakarta on Thursday, Jokowi reiterated that the widespread practice of bureaucrats demanding illegal levies had led to a high-cost economy and deterioration of Indonesia’s competitiveness.
"Illegal levies have been going on for years and we have been too permissive of that. I urge all governors to take concrete steps to wipe out illegal levies in their regions," Jokowi said, citing the practice of illegal levies in application processes for ID cards, land certificates, shipments, and even in health care.
The government last week formed Tim Saber Pungli (the Illegal Levies Eradication Team) to gather reports from the public on illegal levies and take action to eradicate them.
"Anything related to illegal levies must be reduced and eliminated. [...] We hope the operation of the Illegal Levies Eradication Team will be effective," Jokowi went on. (ags)
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