Gus Dur aims to replace customs chief<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): In a bid to boost the state's coffers, President
\nAbdurrahman Wahid plans to replace top customs and excise
\nofficials in order to bolster flagging tax revenues.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman, during a meeting with the Interethnic Brotherhood
\ngroup, reportedly said that Director General of Customs and
\nExcise Permana Agung would be one of the first to go.<\/p>\n
There was no word on who would replace him.<\/p>\n
Fonumero Ziraluo, spokesman for the community group, said
\nAbdurrahman wanted to intensify efforts to meet the Rp 179.9
\ntrillion tax revenue target in the current budget.<\/p>\n
Concerns that the government might not be able to meet that
\ntarget this year increased after it scrapped plans to impose some
\ncontroversial taxes and following the fall in the value of the
\nrupiah.<\/p>\n
Tax revenues account for the majority of domestic revenues,
\nforecast at Rp 263 trillion.<\/p>\n
Chief economics minister Rizal Ramli warned last week the 2001
\nbudget deficit could exceed 5 percent of gross domestic product
\nif the government did not take prompt action, including stepping
\nup efforts to boost tax revenues.<\/p>\n
The weakening rupiah, high interest rates and lower-than-
\nexpected revenues have been blamed for the deficit.(byg)<\/p>",
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