Acehnese Diaspora Disaster Aid Held Up by Customs

A number of Acehnese diaspora members in Malaysia sent aid for their compatriots in Aceh following devastating floods and landslides. However, the disaster relief consignment has been held up by permit requirements from the Directorate General of Customs and Excise at the Ministry of Finance.

The matter was raised by the Head of the Task Force for Accelerating Post-Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction in Sumatra and concurrent Home Affairs Minister, Tito Karnavian, during a meeting with House of Representatives leaders at the parliamentary complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Wednesday (18 February). Tito sought guidance from the House regarding the aid shipment.

“There is currently aid from the Acehnese diaspora. We know that in Malaysia there are approximately 500,000 Acehnese citizens working there who have family ties,” Tito said.

“Besides helping their respective families with monetary assistance, they have also collected goods, mainly food supplies,” he added.

Tito requested support from House leaders regarding the aid. He said the goods had been dispatched but were being held up.

“The goods are ready and have been sent from Port Klang in Kuala Lumpur, to be shipped to the port in Lhokseumawe, called Krueng Geukueh Port. But they are currently held up because Customs has not yet granted entry permission,” he said.

Tito conveyed that President Prabowo Subianto had directed that the aid be accepted, provided it did not contain prohibited items.

“We informed the President at the time that as long as it is not government-to-government, it should be accepted. Government-to-government aid must go through the Foreign Minister. This is not government-to-government — it is from a community of people there who have family connections and work in Malaysia,” he said.

“The President said it should be accepted as long as there are no prohibited items such as narcotics, firearms, and the like,” he added.

Finance Minister Purbaya’s Response

Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa, in the same meeting, responded to the news that disaster aid from the Acehnese diaspora in Malaysia had been held up by Customs permits. Purbaya assured that as long as there was certification from the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), the aid would be released.

“Yes, as long as there is certification from BNPB, we can release it, Sir. So if BNPB states these are goods for disaster relief, Customs will release them,” Purbaya said.

Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian said his office had coordinated with BNPB regarding the aid. The shipment would be received and distributed by BNPB.

“We have already coordinated with BNPB. BNPB will receive it and BNPB will distribute it,” Tito said.

House Leaders Call for Dispensation

Still in the same meeting, House Deputy Speaker Sufmi Dasco Ahmad urged that the disaster aid from Acehnese residents in Malaysia be allowed to enter Indonesia without bureaucratic delays. Dasco called on the government to open access for the shipment.

“I understand there is an issue with aid from Acehnese citizens in Malaysia. Whose authority is it now to allow these goods in, Home Affairs Minister? So it can be decided quickly here,” Dasco said.

Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian said the authority lay with Customs at the Ministry of Finance. Tito detailed the aid as including 3,000 litres of cooking oil worth Rp 1 billion, sugar worth approximately Rp 50 million, and mineral water worth Rp 672 million.

“There are 5,000 boxes of ready-to-eat meals worth Rp 1 billion. The bulk is new clothing — 3,000 sacks worth Rp 126 billion, Qurans worth Rp 1 billion, and toilet fixtures worth Rp 4.8 billion,” Tito said.

“They are requesting these be shipped to the port in Lhokseumawe from Port Klang. The goods are already at Port Klang. We have sent a letter to the Directorate General of Customs and Excise at the Ministry of Finance. The key issue is that for cooking oil and sugar, we need a letter from the relevant technical ministry, namely the Agriculture Minister, regarding whether these may be imported,” he added.

Dasco considered the one-off shipment of disaster aid unproblematic and called on the Ministry of Agriculture to help facilitate access.

“This is just a one-time shipment, isn’t it? A donation from Acehnese citizens living in Malaysia. I think the Agriculture Minister would not object since the quantities are not that large. Agriculture Minister?” Dasco said.

Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman, who was also present at the meeting, said rice was a highly sensitive commodity and should preferably not be shipped. Dasco confirmed there was no rice in the consignment.

“Our suggestion is, if possible, rice is very sensitive,” Andi said.

“There is no rice, Sir, only a small amount of cooking oil and sugar,” Dasco replied.

However, Andi proposed that the aid be converted to cash instead. He noted that Indonesia was currently exporting cooking oil on a large scale to several countries.

“If it is still possible, our suggestion is — since we are also exporting cooking oil on a large scale to several countries — if it could be converted to cash. But if it must come in, I think very strict supervision is needed,” Andi said.

Ultimately, Dasco concluded that since the shipment was a one-off humanitarian effort, the government could grant a dispensation. He asked the State Secretary Minister and the Finance Minister to coordinate with the Directorate General of Customs and Excise to expedite the permit process.

“These goods have already been purchased, they just need to be shipped, and it is only a one-time event. I think we can grant a dispensation since it is just once, rather than having to convert it back to cash and repurchase everything,” Dasco said.

“The State Secretary Minister and Finance Minister can coordinate with the Director General of Customs and Excise. We have heard the Agriculture Minister’s view, and since this is a one-time donation and the volume is not disruptive, I think, Home Affairs Minister, we can realise this as soon as possible so these goods can enter under strict supervision and go directly to the evacuation centres in time for the fasting month and Eid al-Fitr,” he added.