'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