Port promises to end illegal levies

Port promises to end illegal levies

JAKARTA (JP): PT Pelabuhan Indonesia II, the state-owned
company managing the Tanjung Priok port, has promised to
eliminate illegal levies for the transportation of goods with
containers into and out of the port.

"The Council for Container Transportation Services in Tanjung
Priok guarantees that there will be no more illegal levies for
container services at the port as of early next month," Chairman
of the Association of Indonesian Importers (GINSI) Amirudin Saud
said here Wednesday.

The council comprises officials of GINSI, the Jakarta office
of the Ministry of Transportation, the Tanjung Priok
administration office, Pelabuhan II, the Jakarta Administration,
the Jakarta Police Command, the Association of Freight
Forwarding Companies and the Association of Land Transportation
Companies.

Amirudin acknowledged that the port has taken measures to stop
illegal levies in its area but will increase the fees for its
services.

"We do not object to the fee increase if it is accompanied by
improved services because spending for them can be calculated,"
he said.

"The abolition of illegal levies is marvelous because we have
spent too much for such payments which cannot be calculated," he
added.

Exporters and importers have complained that they have had to
spend a lot of money for illegal levies demanded by personnel
processing documents at the Tanjung Priok port. They cried out
over such levies earlier this month because the fees have made
their products too expensive and less competitive on the world
market.

Amirudin was quoted by Kompas daily yesterday as saying the
port will also introduce a new method of payment for container
handling services, under which owners of containers will be
required to pay handling fees with vouchers issued by Bank
Bukopin.

The new method of payment is aimed at eliminating corruption
and illegal touting, he said. (riz)