Destruction of smuggled sugar<\/p>\n
H.M. Rienaldo Thamrin has written that the plan of Trade
\nMinister Rini Soewandi to destroy smuggled sugar shows the
\nabsence of a sense of crisis and the influence of the old
\nparadigm of sectoral arrogance, which takes no account of the
\ninterests of the nation (Tempo, April 18).<\/p>\n
I agree that the smuggled sugar should not be destroyed
\nbecause the smugglers have imported it using state foreign
\nexchange funds, which are not easy to come by.<\/p>\n
The worry that smuggled sugar will enter the market in
\nIndonesia and therefore cause domestically produced sugar to
\ndecline in price, is quite understandable. It is indeed quite a
\nproblem here. If you distribute the smuggled sugar to the poor,
\nwho do not usually buy sugar, they may be happy but may also sell
\nit so that they can buy rice or instant noodles.<\/p>\n
Ultimately, of course, the smuggled sugar will also enter the
\nmarket.<\/p>\n
I suggest, therefore, that the sugar should be sold to
\nindustrial companies that usually use imported molasses as a raw
\nmaterial.<\/p>\n
I have approached some MSG manufacturers to ask them whether
\nthey are ready to buy the sugar but they have rejected the offer
\non the grounds that such sugar is something that is forbidden
\nunder Islamic law. This means that if it were used to produce
\nsomething, whatever was produced would also be forbidden under
\nIslamic law. I guess smuggled sugar may have to be sold to
\nalcoholic drinks manufacturers in the end as their products are
\nconsidered forbidden under Islamic law.<\/p>\n
My conclusion is that the smuggled sugar need not be
\ndestroyed.<\/p>\n
SUNARTO PRAWIROSUJANTO, Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/destruction-of-smuggled-sugar-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }