Duty free imports of lubricants<\/p>\n
I am writing in response to the article \"Lubricant producers
\nagainst imports freedom\" of Oct. 5. Many times, the Association of
\nIndonesian Lubricant Producers, through its chairman A.P.
\nBatubara, used the phrase \"national interest\".<\/p>\n
This slogan has, by now, proven to be hollow and abused maybe
\nas much as the tariff list from the customs' book. What has not
\nbeen protected in the name of national interest?<\/p>\n
If you look at the names of private companies in your article,
\nagain it is in the interest of those few which are in the hands
\nof a few shareholders. God forbid that we may find out that they
\nare, again, the \"chosen ones\" out of Soeharto's past, i.e. the
\nhigh and mighty elite that are entangled in corruption, collusion
\nand nepotism practices.<\/p>\n
And they have made these companies for only one reason: to
\nrake in profits for themselves, not for the nation.<\/p>\n
And again, they abuse this infamous phrasing of \"national
\ninterest\", and may I only suggest that your reporters give a
\nbrief investigative and informative article to the public: How
\n\"inefficiently\" these firms work (high costs? and with mark-
\nups?).<\/p>\n
The new post-Soeharto standard is about what Prof. Sumitro
\nDjojohadikusumo stressed four years ago: If a venture cannot make
\nprofit without protection, don't start it. As simple as that.<\/p>\n
So, Batubara and friends should face this reality and stop
\nirritating the already heavily stressed and burdened people of
\nthis country with silly phrasing.<\/p>\n
The minister should be cold headed and rational, and eliminate
\nall \"high cost\" elements in our life.<\/p>\n
Y. SANTO<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/duty-free-imports-of-lubricants-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }