Used textiles continue to flood Sumatra, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Haidir Anwar Tandjung and Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post,
\nMedan\/Pekanbaru<\/p>\n
Tembilahan, a small coastal town in the Riau regency of Indragiri
\nHilir, has drawn a lot of attention from small-scale businessmen
\nover the last few months as it has become a gateway for used
\nclothes into the provinces of Jambi, South Sumatra and Lampung.<\/p>\n
It has two major markets especially offering imported products
\nto local businessmen who distribute them to other markets in
\nother cities in the provinces.<\/p>\n
Many local people have left their daily jobs as fishermen and
\ncoconut farmers to become suppliers and middlemen for imported
\nused clothing and fabrics. They bring in the imported commodity
\nfrom Malaysian and Singaporean suppliers via the Malacca Straits.<\/p>\n
Maman, 45, a trader in Tembilahan, conceded that the business
\nwas quite lucrative because he could sell between five and ten
\nbales of second-hand clothes every day.<\/p>\n
\"We buy the used clothes at the price between Rp 500,000 and
\nRp 1.5 million per bale. We can gain a profit of between Rp 1
\nmillion and Rp 2 million per bale after all other expenses
\nbecause a bale contains around 200 pieces with the prices between
\nRp 15,000 and Rp 35,000 per piece depending on their quality and
\ncondition,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Maman, also a civil servant at the Indragiri Hilir
\nadministration, cited that around 1,000 bales of used clothing
\nentered through the town every day.<\/p>\n
Despite the government ban, the second-hand textiles imported
\nfrom Europe, the United States, Japan and South Korea through the
\ntwo neighboring countries, continue flooding Sumatra and Java.<\/p>\n
Many markets and shopping centers in Medan, Tebing Tinggi and
\nPematang Siantar in North Sumatra offer second-hand clothes which
\nare brought in through Tanjungbalai seaport.<\/p>\n
\"It is easy to find cheap used clothes in Pasar Baru and Senen
\nshopping areas in Jakarta. The used clothes have entered the
\nIndonesian capital through Tanjungpriok seaport,\" Brig. Gen.
\nDeddy S. Komaruddin, chief of the Riau Provincial Police, said
\nhere recently.<\/p>\n
He acknowledged that the police had \"difficulties\" in
\neradicating the lucrative smuggling of used clothes because of
\nthe large coastal areas in the province and the increasing demand
\nfor the commodity.<\/p>\n
\"Apart from the violations of law, we should be realistic that
\nthe increased flow of clothes had a lot to do with increasing
\ndemand at home. The crisis has hit the purchasing power of a
\nmajority of the people so that they are unable to purchase new
\nproducts locally in malls.<\/p>\n
\"Everyone wants to wear a new set of clothes especially to
\ncelebrate Idul Fitri but most people would be financially
\nincapable of doing that if it were not for these lower priced
\nclothes,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Acin, a Chinese trader, conceded that the entrance of used
\nclothes has affected the local products but said he could do
\nnothing because the smuggling could not be stopped by local
\nrelevant authorities.<\/p>\n
Indragiri Hilir Regent Rusli Zainal said the illegal entrance
\nof the used clothes was really a dilemma for the local
\nauthorities because Indonesia, including the province, has been a
\ndump site for second-hand goods from foreign countries but at
\nsame time, the demand for the used clothes was still on the rise
\nat home.<\/p>\n
\"We must be extra alert in handling the problem. We have not
\nimposed taxes on traders or importers because we have not
\ncompleted publicizing Ministerial Decree No. 22\/1997 banning
\nimports of used commodities, including textiles and cars.\"<\/p>\n
Some 80 used cars granted by the Singaporean Police to state
\nuniversities in the provinces have been seized by the local tax
\nand excise office because of the government ban.<\/p>\n
The coordinator of the Forum for Indonesian Youths (FIM) in
\nMedan, North Sumatra, Fadli Nurzal, criticized the government ban
\nthat has affected 200,000 traders and thousands of workers in the
\nseaport in Tanjung Balai who have been earning their livelihood
\nfrom the used imports.<\/p>\n
\"More than 200,000 used clothing traders have to seek new jobs
\nafter the local authorities banned imports. To be consistent, the
\ngovernment should also take actions against the import of used
\ncars from Singapore and Japan,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Rijal Sirait, a member of the North Sumatra provincial
\nlegislative council, concurred and said the government should
\ncontrol the rising price of domestic products and improve the
\npeople's purchasing power.<\/p>\n
\"The government should not be manipulative in making
\ncontroversial rules but make policy and regulations benefiting a
\nmajority of the people,\" he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/used-textiles-continue-to-flood-sumatra-jakarta-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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