Gas station owners refuse coupon system<\/p>\n
BANDUNG (JP): More than 70 owners of gas stations grouped in
\nthe Bandung and Sumedang branches of the Association of National
\nOil and Gas Businessmen (Hiswana) have refused a coupon system
\nproposed by the government.<\/p>\n
Dadang Amir Hamzah, the chairman of the Bandung-Sumedang
\nHiswana branch, told a news conference here on Saturday that the
\ncoupon system, which would help public transportation owners get
\ndiesel fuel and gas at lower prices, could lead to corruption.<\/p>\n
\"There would be fake coupons circulated among the vehicle
\nowners, and this would hit gas station owners financially. Even
\nrupiah notes, which have complicated designs and colors, have
\nbeen falsified,\" Dadang said.<\/p>\n
The government plans to increase fuel prices, but will exempt
\npublic transportation vehicles. It will distribute coupons to
\npublic transportation owners. Holders of the coupons, which must
\nbe shown at the time of purchase, will receive lower fuel prices.<\/p>\n
The coupons will be distributed through the local Organization
\nof Land Transportation Owners (Organda).<\/p>\n
However, many consider that the plan may cause confusion among
\npublic transportation drivers and owners of gas stations.<\/p>\n
Those who are skeptical about the plan said the government
\nwould find it difficult to distribute the coupons to all drivers
\nof public transportation vehicles across the archipelago on April
\n1, when the new fuel prices will take effect.<\/p>\n
Dadang said the coupon system would bring about new problems.
\n\"If we unfortunately receive counterfeit coupons, we will not
\ndeserve compensation from the government.\"<\/p>\n
After a six-hour meeting, the Bandung-Sumedang Hiswana branch
\noffered the government an alternative to the coupon system.<\/p>\n
\"The drivers could cash the coupons at designated banks and
\nbuy fuel at gas stations in cash at a normal price. This sounds
\nmore practical,\" Dadang said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile in a one-day seminar on Energy Revolution in the
\n21st Century and The Implication of Fuel and Electricity Price
\nHike in Bandung, an expert staff member of the Ministry of Mines
\nand Energy acknowledged the coupon's drawbacks.<\/p>\n
\"The mechanism of the subsidy sets up two different prices of
\nfuel which will be very difficult to implement,\" Iin Arifin
\nTakhyan, who is in charge of oil and gas affairs at the ministry,
\nsaid in the seminar held at Padjadjaran University.<\/p>\n
\"The coupon distribution, which will involve many
\ninstitutions, is vulnerable to distortion. Fake coupons,
\ndistribution of coupons to ineligible parties and resale of used
\ncoupons are very possible.\"<\/p>\n
The government, however, would maintain the system and promise
\nto tightly control the production, distribution and use of the
\ncoupons, he said.<\/p>\n
\"PT Peruri, a state-owned printing company which prints rupiah
\nnotes, is to print the coupons and will be extra careful in
\nproducing them.\"<\/p>\n
\"If we find any more problems during the first three-month
\ntrial, cashing coupons at the designated banks may be possible,\"
\nhe said. (25\/sur)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/gas-station-owners-refuse-coupon-system-1447893297",
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