President Jokowi Calls for Dismissal of Officials Who Collect Illegal Levies

President Jokowi visits Transportation Ministry on Tuesday (11/10)

President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo on Tuesday afternoon (11/10) made a sudden visit to the Ministry of Transportation following the arrest of a number of officials from the Ministry for allegedly collecting illegal levies.

“I have received a report from the Chief of the Indonesian National Police (Kapolri) on the arrest of a number of officials allegedly involved in the illegal levies for obtaining a seaman’s book and documents of vessels. The illegal levies are different in values; some are worth thousand rupiahs; some are worth million rupiahs,” President Jokowi said, adding that the Government will take a firm action against high-ranking officials and staff who are proven to be involved in illegal levy practices.

“I have instructed Minister of Transportation and Minister of State Apparatus Empowerment and Bureaucratic Reforms to arrest and directly discharge those involved in collecting illegal levies,” the President added.

President Jokowi also urged all government institutions to stop collecting illegal levies.“We have to stop illegal levies, especially those for public services,” President Jokowi said.

Previously at the limited cabinet meeting at the Presidential Office on Tuesday (11/10) that discussed Legal Reforms, President Jokowi said that the Government has decided to conduct  sting operations to eradicate illegal levies and smuggling (OPP) as part of legal reforms in the country.

“In just around one hour after we decided to conduct the operation, we have managed to unveil a case (illegal levies practice),” the President said.

In the meantime, Cabinet Secretary PramonoAnung told reporters that President Jokowi had instructed Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs to formulate and finish (the planning for the operation) and to immediately conduct the operation.

“Maybe in the near future, this operation will give a shock therapy,” Pramono said on Tuesday.

During the operation, which was held at 3 pm, the Police arrested 6 people, including two officials of the Ministry of Transportation. (BPMI Setpres/ES) (EP/YM/Naster)