Forwarding body denies alleged wrongdoings
Forwarding body denies alleged wrongdoings
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Forwarders Association (INFA)
yesterday denied allegations that its members were impeding the
flow of air cargo imports.
The association's secretary general, Santoso Soeparman, told
journalists at his office yesterday that those who usually hinder
the clearance of goods through airports' customs areas are
individuals who provide forwarding services.
"They cannot be categorized as freight forwarders because they
are not affiliated to any freight forwarding companies. Some of
them might operate as customs service scalpers," Santoso said.
He made the remarks in response to allegations by Director
General of Customs and Excise Soehardjo Soebardi that freight
forwarding companies often act more like customs service scalpers
rather than customs brokers.
Soehardjo said forwarders often exploit small-scale importers
or travelers who carry goods which have to be declared to customs
officials. They charge extra money for what they describe as
services to deal with customs officials.
"We regret the customs director general's remark because it
could damage the image of freight forwarding companies in
general," Santoso said.
He added that such a bad image of local forwarding firms could
make users of their services turn to foreign firms, which in turn
would widen the country's deficit in services.
Members
INFA groups some 1,350 freight forwarding firms, including 42
firms operating in Jakarta's Sukarno-Hatta Airport and some 600
firms in Tanjung Priok Port.
Some 200 other forwarding companies in the city, however, are
not registered as INFA members.
Santoso noted that what was hinted by Soehardjo as customs
service scalpers may be those individuals who are not affiliated
with INFA's member forwarding firms, or individuals who provide
assistance in processing customs documents.
"I don't say that there are no recalcitrant INFA members. If
anyone of our members is found to work as customs service
scalpers, just report to us. We will take disciplinary actions
against such errant members," Santoso said.
He noted that INFA had signed a memorandum of understanding
with the customs directorate general to improve the image of both
the customs office and freight forwarding firms.
Santoso said INFA had often raised the issue of customs
service providers, whose existence was guaranteed by Presidential
Decree No. 3/1991.
"However, up to now there have not been any detailed
provisions as to who are allowed to give customs services,"
Santoso said.
"We have asked the customs office to regulate those acting as
intermediaries in dealing with customs clearance, but up to now
it has not taken any measures."
He said INFA had also proposed to the customs office the
possibility of requiring freight forwarding companies to give
bank guarantees for their operations.
Soehardjo said earlier that his office had no direct control
over freight forwarding firms and other customs service providers
because it has no licensing power over them.
Freight forwarding companies obtain operation licenses from
the Ministry of Transportation. (rid)