'Sin tax' raised as idea to boost funds
'Sin tax' raised as idea to boost funds
JAKARTA (JP): It is widely known that sports development needs
lots of money to support its programs. Unfortunately, the
National Sports Council (KONI), its provincial chapters and
sports organizations have yet to be able to raise fund to finance
their needs.
Therefore, an idea came up on Thursday to propose to the
government to apply "sin tax" to support sports development needs
and also education, health and other social services needs.
Political observer Andi Mallarangeng commented to the idea
that "sin tax" would not only cover gambling but also
prostitution and cigarettes as has been applied in several
countries.
"Activities regarded as sinful by religion or the community
including gambling, prostitution or perhaps cigarettes can have a
high tax imposed as a cross subsidy to finance education, sports,
health and other social services," he told reporters in the
sidelines of a discussion on the sports bill.
"If the government wants to apply the tax, it must issue a new
law on it. Then if it's approved and applied, the government must
specify in which sector the tax will be used. But the money does
not go to the State or Provincial Budget but goes directly to the
specific sectors that have been mentioned in the law."
Ismangoen Notosapoetro, a member of the House of
Representatives' Commission VI on Human Recourses and Religious
Affairs, said that the idea has never been brought up to the
House as he was pessimistic about the possibility that the idea
would be approved by the House members.
"Now we still have the bill No.7/1974 forbidding gambling
throughout the country. It must be changed or improved. Actually
the idea is not a matter of agreeing or disagreeing, sinful or
innocent, going to heaven or hell. It's about being realistic,"
said Ismangoen, who was formerly a vice chairman of KONI Central
Java chapter.
"Illegally, many Indonesians are still gambling all throughout
the cities and villages. But the government pretends not to know.
Imagine how many Indonesians spend their money in gambling in
Genting Highlands in Malaysia, Macau, Las Vegas or Monaco."
"I think it would be better if we can provide an isolated
amusement center, which includes gambling in it, to provide for
the gambling needs of our people. The management of the center
can forbid certain people such as Moslems or children from
entering the area as did Malaysia in the Genting Highlands."
"If the government can apply high taxes on gambling, imagine
how much money we can receive to support sports development, the
education budget and other necessities."
Ismangoen recalled that former Jakarta governor Ali Sadikin
had successfully raised funds to build the city back in the
1970s. (yan)