Gus Dur supports progressive tax<\/p>\n
WONOSOBO, Central Java (JP): Noted Moslem scholar Abdurrahman
\nWahid, popularly known as Gus Dur, said yesterday that he
\nsupported the idea of introducing more progressive tax rates,
\nwhereby the wealthy contribute more to state coffers than the
\nless well to do.<\/p>\n
The chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama, a large rural-based
\nMoslem organization, said the time has come for the nation to
\nlimit the amount of wealth one is allowed accumulate.<\/p>\n
But, besides anti-monopoly and anti-trust laws, both of which
\nhave been widely proposed by others, Abdurrahman also proposed
\nthe introduction of more progressive tax rates.<\/p>\n
\"The way it is at the moment, the wealthy in Indonesia have it
\nall their way. They're rich and they can pass all their wealth to
\ntheir children with little taxes,\" he said during a lecture at
\nAl-Asy'ariyah, a Moslem boarding school.<\/p>\n
He pointed out that Britain imposes up to 85 percent tax rates
\non inheritance.<\/p>\n
However, before Indonesia moves to impose higher tax rates,
\nAbdurrahman said, the country should first resolve its tax
\nadministration.<\/p>\n
\"I really support the idea of progressive tax rates in
\nIndonesia. But because of the lack of transparency at the way the
\ntax money is spent and the controversy it has often created, we
\nshould first improve the administration,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He added that if the money is spent in the right way, people
\nwould not object to paying higher rates of taxes. \"They would
\nconsider it fair to pay more taxes as long as they know that the
\nmoney is spent wisely and for the benefit of society.<\/p>\n
A better administration would also encourage people to pay
\ntheir taxes and this would make it easier for the government to
\npay the tax rates in the future, he added.<\/p>\n
On the absence of an anti-trust law in Indonesia, Abdurrahman
\nsaid he found it strange that even the United States, which is
\nsupposed to be the most capitalist of capitalist countries, has
\nalready introduced the legislation to prevent companies from
\ncontrolling the market.<\/p>\n
\"I think it's a matter of political will,\" he quipped.
\n(har\/emb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/gus-dur-supports-progressive-tax-1447893297",
"image": ""
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