Spare textbooks from paper price hikes: IKAPI<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Book publishers have urged the government to
\nspare school textbooks from recent major hikes in the price of
\npaper.<\/p>\n
The Association of Indonesian Book Publishers (IKAPI) said
\nyesterday that its members which print school textbooks are
\nhaving difficulties fulfilling their orders because of
\nuncertainties in the supply and price of paper.<\/p>\n
The publishers are also running out of time because they must
\nprint the books in time for the new school year, which begins in
\nJuly, IKAPI said in a statement.<\/p>\n
IKAPI members, realizing their responsibility for supplying
\nschool text books at affordable prices, have been working hard to
\ncut costs, including using lower quality newsprint.<\/p>\n
Their efforts will be useless if the price of paper, the main
\nraw material of book publishers, continues to soar, it said.<\/p>\n
Although most school textbooks are still supplied by
\ngovernment-owned publishers, private publishing companies are
\nalso involved. They supply supplementary textbooks which are
\nequally important, it added.<\/p>\n
In March, the government announced a nearly 30 percent
\nincrease in the price of newsprint, to be phased in over a six
\nmonth period. The price of newsprint is set through negotiations
\nbetween representatives of the pulp and paper industry, newspaper
\npublishers and the government.<\/p>\n
The price of other types of paper is not regulated and has
\nalready risen to reflect shortages in domestic supply.<\/p>\n
The increase in paper prices has been widely criticized
\nbecause it came at a time when the government is campaigning to
\nencourage the public to read more.<\/p>\n
Wahono<\/p>\n
Wahono, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, this week
\ncriticized the government's policy of allowing the price of paper
\nto increase as inconsistent with the campaign. He also pointed
\nout that the high prices were ironic in a country supposed to be
\nthe world's largest producer of pulp and paper.<\/p>\n
Golkar chairman, Harmoko, has announced that the ruling
\npolitical organization will ask the government to review its
\npaper pricing policy because affordable books are essential to
\nsharpen and improve the intellectual level of Indonesians.<\/p>\n
Golkar used its political clout last month to force the
\ngovernment to rethink its increase of the price of cement.<\/p>\n
Responding to widespread criticism, Minister of Industry Tunky
\nAriwibowo has promised that the government and pulp and paper
\nproducers will discuss ways of reducing the price hike or
\nproviding special treatment for certain users.<\/p>\n
The domestic supply of paper in Indonesia is controlled by two
\ncompanies.<\/p>\n
IKAPI says its members which supply school textbooks are
\nincreasingly using newsprint rather than the more expensive HVS
\nand HVO papers in order to keep their costs down.<\/p>\n
IKAPI's 462 members need 9,000 tons of newsprint and 2,500
\ntons of HVS\/HVO paper each month.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Agus Winarno, chairman of the IKAPI chapter in East
\nJava, proposed that book publishers be charged the same for
\nnewsprint that newspaper publishers pay.<\/p>\n
Agus said newspapers pay Rp 1,700 a kilogram while book
\npublishers are charged Rp 2,500, Antara reported.<\/p>\n
This would help IKAPI members carry out their mission to
\nimprove the intelligence level of Indonesians, he said.<\/p>\n
The rector of the Bandung Teachers Training Institute, Abdul
\nKodir, warned that the increase in paper prices, and the
\nconsequent increase in book prices, would have a negative long
\nterm effect on the country.<\/p>\n
He said book prices were already high, which caused
\nIndonesians to shun reading. The price increases will further
\ndeter people from buying books.<\/p>\n
Abdul Kodir proposed that the government subsidize school
\ntextbooks and science books to reverse the trend. (emb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/spare-textbooks-from-paper-price-hikes-ikapi-1447893297",
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"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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