'Levies should be based on by-laws'

'Levies should be based on by-laws'

BANJARMASIN, South Kalimantan: An expert has called on the
provincial administration to phase out illegal levies that have
overburdened local people.

"The illegal levies have created a high cost economy and
overburdened local people," Mohammad Effendy, a lecturer in
constitutional law at the Lambung Mangkurat University in the
city said here on Wednesday.

Effendy was responding to South Kalimantan Governor Sjachriel
Darham's recent statement that the provincial administration
would go ahead with its plan to impose a levy on all ships plying
the Barito River in the province.

According to Effendy, all levies imposed on the people must be
based on by-laws that have been endorsed by the provincial
legislative council.

Many parties, including local businessmen and ship owners,
have criticized Bylaw No.6/2001 on payments for using the Barito
River, which requires all ships entering the river to make a
financial contribution to the provincial government. --Antara