Publishers insist on lower book prices
Publishers insist on lower book prices
JAKARTA (JP): Soaring newsprint prices have forced publishers to once again pressure the government to exempt books from numerous taxes in order to make books affordable.
"The government should apply a 'no tax for knowledge' policy," Putut Widjanarko, General Manager of the Mizan publishing company in Bandung, was quoted by Antara on Saturday as saying.
Commenting on the recent 15 to 20 percent increase in the price of books, he pointed out that, unlike many countries where textbooks are exempt from tax, the Indonesian government imposes value added taxes on paper, on publishing equipment and on the production and distribution of books.
Putut said that even before the price increase, books in Indonesia were considered expensive compared to other developing countries.
Tax exemption policies, he said, should be introduced and the government must continue to encourage people to love books with nationwide campaigns to promote reading.
This way, he said, more books could be published which would lower their prices.
The government recently reduced the price of HVS paper, used in school textbooks, from Rp 2,600 (US$1.2) to Rp 2,500 per kilogram. Textbook prices, however, have risen 15 to 20 percent.
Putut said that the government's small reduction in the cost of HVS paper for school textbooks wouldn't curb the sharp increase in the price of textbooks.
"With this policy, the government still will not be able to guarantee that it is profitable for publishers to print school textbooks on HVS paper," he said.
The government announced a 60 percent increase in the price of HVS paper and newsprint last month, triggering a strong reaction from publishers and also the public.
Earlier this week, after the reduction of HVS prices, the House of Representatives urged the government to reduce the price of newsprint.
Putut praised the House's move, pointing out that most textbooks are printed on newsprint.
In line with this, Boedi Yogipranata, head of the Gramedia bookstore in Yogyakarta, said 75 percent of school textbooks were printed on newsprint.
Boedi said that since the April price hike, his bookstore has increased the price of textbooks by up to 10 percent and fiction and non-fiction books by 15 percent.
Meanwhile, it was reported from various cities that fewer books have been bought over the past month, possibly because of the increase in prices.
"Our earnings have drastically dropped," said Sipayung, owner of a roadside book kiosk in Senen, Central Jakarta, as quoted by Antara.(pwn)