JAKARTA - Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa confirmed that he did not plan to impose taxes on ships that passed through the waters of the Malacca Strait.
The clarification was to clarify the news that he proposed the collection of tax rates in the region.
"That is not a serious context. We have never planned to collect (taxes)," Purbaya told reporters in Jakarta, Friday, April 24, reported by ANTARA.
Purbaya ensured that he understood the agreement of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Purbayamemahami hal itu karenapernah menjadi salah satu perhatiannya saat menjabat sebagai Deputi Bidang Koordinasi Kedaulatan Maritim dan Energi Kementerian Koordinator Bidang Kemaritiman dan Investasi pada Mei 2018 hingga September 2020.
One of the important points of UNCLOS is freedom of navigation. In this context, Purbaya guarantees that Indonesia upholds maritime law in international waters.
"The freedom of navigation is that we are obliged to allow ships that pass through our EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone), even we have to maintain security there," explained Purbaya.
The state treasurer again underlined that Indonesia would not violate the international law that had been signed.
"We have ratified UNCLOS and we will uphold the law that we have signed," he said.
Previously, the Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sugiono stated that Indonesia would not impose tariffs in the Malacca Strait.
He emphasized that Indonesia respects international law, especially the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
In this case, the Malacca Strait is one of the international shipping routes and is legal to pass according to Articles 37, 38, and 39 of UNCLOS which have been ratified by Indonesia.
According to Sugiono, UNCLOS is an agreement that Indonesia is recognized as an island country as long as the island country does not impose tariffs on the straits in its territory.
Sugiono also emphasized that Indonesia supports freedom of navigation and expects smooth, free and mutually beneficial maritime traffic.
The English, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and French versions are automatically generated by the AI. So there may still be inaccuracies in translating, please always see Indonesian as our main language. (system supported by DigitalSiber.id)
