Cigarette Excise Probe Urged to Be Careful, KPK Reminded to Protect Small Industries

JAKARTA - Cigarette entrepreneur and Nahdlatul Ulama figure, Khallilur R Abdullah Sahlawiy or Gus Lilur, asked the Corruption Eradication Commission to be careful in investigating alleged corruption in tax management at the Directorate General of Customs and Excise so that it does not have an impact on the people's cigarette industry.

According to him, the KPK's steps in uncovering bribery and corruption practices in the tax sector should be supported, but law enforcement should not be carried out in a general way that is actually detrimental to small business actors.

"We must support the action against alleged corruption at the Customs. But the KPK must also be very thorough, careful, and think comprehensively so that handling this case does not become a blind blow against the legal and growing people's industry, especially in Madura," said Gus Lilur in his statement, Monday, April 6.

He emphasized that law enforcement should focus on perpetrators of irregularities, not targeting all perpetrators of the people's cigarette industry who are trying to run their businesses legally.

"Don't let there be generalizations. Those who are wrong must be dealt with, but those who are growing legally should not be turned off," he said.

Gus Lilur menilai, banyak pelaku usaha rokok skala kecil dan menengah justru sedang berupaya masuk ke jalur legal dengan memenuhi kewajiban cukai di tengah tekanan biaya dan persaingan pasar.

Therefore, he asked the KPK to be able to distinguish between perpetrators who take advantage of corruption loopholes and business actors who are part of the people's economy.

He also reminded that the impact of handling this case was not only felt by entrepreneurs, but also by the wider ecosystem, such as tobacco farmers, linting workers, to small traders in producing areas.

"If it is handled carelessly, those affected are not only business owners, but also farmers, workers, and people who depend on this industry for their livelihoods," he said.

According to Gus Lilur, the momentum of investigating the tax case should be used to correct the system as a whole, as well as strengthen the legal path of the people's cigarette industry.

"Don't let the strong pass, the small ones fall. The people's industry that is learning to obey should not collapse because of pressure and stigma," he said.

He also encouraged the KPK together with the government and other stakeholders to create a more equitable industry governance, while maintaining the sustainability of the community's economy in tobacco-producing areas.