Mar'ie vows to implement new customs law
Mar'ie vows to implement new customs law
JAKARTA (JP): Despite private sector concerns the government
has vowed to implement the new customs procedures on April 1
without any transition period.
The minister of finance, Mar'ie Muhammad, said yesterday the
government had made enough preparations to implement the 1995
customs law, including the new customs procedures, which most
importers still find vague.
"There will be no retreat because this is a law, a national
commitment, and we have given it a lot of thought," Mar'ie said
after opening a workshop for employees at the Directorate General
of Customs and Excise.
The minister acknowledged that many parties were unconvinced
the customs office was ready to implement the new customs
procedures.
The new procedures include self-assessment on import duties
and taxes, on-arrival inspections and post-release audits. They
will replace preshipment inspection system.
"That's why we have to prove that this new system is relevant
to our needs in the long run. We must prove it, and it depends on
all of you commanders in the field," Mar'ie told customs
officials at the workshop.
The minister said the new customs procedures would be totally
different with the post-shipment inspection practiced before 1985
when the customs office was scrapped of its inspection authority
because of corruption.
Customs officials should have learned from their experience
and should not repeat their mistakes. They should do their best
to make the implementation of the new customs procedures a
success, Mar'ie said.
Many importers and exporters, traumatized by the corrupt
customs services before 1985, have doubted the readiness of
customs officials, especially those in the front line, to
implement the new customs procedures correctly.
Frightened producer importers have even stockpiled six months
of supplies fearing the implementation of the new procedures will
hinder import flows.
They wanted a transition period in which they could choose
preshipment inspection or the new procedures.
But the government rejected their requests.
Mar'ie said there would be some technical problems in the
field but said they were not grounds for delaying the
implementation of the new customs law.
"Maybe there will be some technical problems somewhere during
the early implementation period. We do not deny this possibility,
and we anticipate those problems may happen," he said.
He promised customs officials would make deliberate technical
difficulties to stop importers being extorted.
If importers come across any extortion attempts they should
report it directly to the director general of customs and excise.
"The customs office, especially its leaders, will be open to
corrections," he said.
The minister told customs officials to serve businesses and
ensure a smooth flows of goods.
"We should serve, not demand to be served," he said.
He said corrupt customs officials could ruin the government's
efforts to build a new image for the customs office.
He promised the new procedures' implementation would not face
serious hurdles because the government had prepared for it.
The preparations included subscribing to electronic data
interchange to facilitate paperless document processing.
The customs office has also improved cooperation with related
institutions, including the ministries of transportation,
industry and trade and the Central Bureau of Statistics.
The customs office has also prepared its officials, especially
their attitude, so that they can adapt to the changes which
demand they act as trade facilitators.
"We remain optimistic that, with our various preparations
including our human resources, we will be successful," Mar'ie
said. (rid)