New evidence found on kerosene surcharge<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The saga over the back-door imposition of a surcharge on kerosene
\nby the government continued on Friday, with a lawmaker leaking a
\nletter of agreement detailing the sharing out of the proceeds of
\nthe surcharge between the government and private sector.<\/p>\n
The disclosure came a day after Minister of Home Affairs M.
\nMa'ruf denied knowing anything about the surcharge, despite a
\ncircular issued on this matter by his ministry on Oct. 3.<\/p>\n
The circular, apparently signed by Ma'ruf, ordered the
\nimposition of a Rp 50 surcharge on every liter of kerosene sold
\nto consumers.<\/p>\n
"This agreement deals with cooperation in monitoring,
\nsupervision, dispute settlement and evaluation in respect of
\nkerosene distribution between local administrations, certain
\ninstitutions and the Oil and Gas Business Association (Hiswana
\nMigas)," lawmaker Ramson Siagian said while reading out the
\nletter.<\/p>\n
The agreement, which he said had been issued by a regency
\nadministration in Sumatra, bore three signatures as well a stamp,
\nand consisted of a several articles.<\/p>\n
"Article 2 stipulates that Rp 30 per liter will go to the
\nlocal administration, Rp 10 to the Oil and Gas Business
\nAssociation, and Rp 10 to two institutions," added Ramson, who
\nrepresents the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).<\/p>\n
He declined to name the local administration, the institutions
\nor those who had signed the agreement, but said that the
\nsurcharge had produced at least Rp 1.4 billion in proceeds so far
\nsince the letter was issued on Oct. 4.<\/p>\n
"The agreement states that it was entered into based on the
\nministerial circular. So it's a mystery if the home minister says
\nhe knows nothing about it," Ramson said.<\/p>\n
The House leadership sent a letter on Thursday to Ma'ruf
\ndemanding that he immediately revoke the circular following a
\nrecommendation by the House energy commission.<\/p>\n
The House said that the surcharge only worsened the lot of
\nconsumers, and argued that it was illegal and unaccountable due
\nto a lack of clarity over how the proceeds were to be used.<\/p>\n
"Thus, I would call on the President to instruct the
\nDevelopment Finance Comptroller to investigate the case," said
\nRamson.<\/p>\n
In the two months since the circular presumably took effect,
\nthe government is likely to have made around Rp 90 billion from
\nthe surcharge, with average kerosene consumption totaling 900,000
\nkiloliters per month.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/new-evidence-found-on-kerosene-surcharge-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}