JAKARTA - The government has lifted the ban on coal exports. Previously, the export ban was imposed because the supply of coal for power plants that supply PLN was considered insufficient.

Reported by VOI in an article entitled "Ready to Open Coal Exports Gradually, Luhut: Reserves Are Safe for 25 Days", Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said coal exports would be opened in stages. Luhut also ensured that coal reserves for the next 15 to 25 days are sufficient.

"The number of days has been gradual from reserves for 15 days, now it is sufficient for 25 days," Luhut said Monday, January 10, 2022.

Meanwhile, for exports abroad, Luhut said it would start opening on Wednesday, January 12 and it would be done in stages.

"We are verifying the ship tonight and maybe tomorrow it will be released," Luhut added.

Coordinating Minister Luhut added that the government would make major improvements related to export activities and coal supply for PLN.

"You have to buy directly from the company, you can't trade with traders anymore. It was decided at the meeting earlier," he explained.

Previously, the Indonesian government carried out a temporary export ban through a letter from the Directorate General of Mineral and Coal (Ditjen Minerba) number B-1605/MB.05/DJB.B/2021 dated 31 December 2021. The ban was carried out on 1 January - 31 January 2022. But not until January 31, the ban was lifted.

President Jokowi/DOK Instagram Jokowi
Inconsistent policy

This is not the first time that the Indonesian government under the leadership of Jokowi has issued and revoked a regulation. In March 2021, Jokowi revoked the presidential regulation on investment permits for liquor (alcohol) or alcoholic beverages. The Presidential Decree is contained in Number 10 of 2021 concerning the Investment Business Sector which was signed on February 2, 2021.

President Jokowi said this decision was taken after receiving input from the ulama, the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Muhammadiyah and other religious organizations. The decision to revoke the alcohol investment license is exactly one month after the regulation of the alcohol industry entering the open business sector.

"I hereby convey, I have decided that the attachment to the Presidential Regulation regarding the opening of new investments in the liquor industry containing alcohol has been revoked," Jokowi said in a YouTube broadcast on Tuesday, March 2, 2021.

Jokowi can even be fickle in long-term projects. In 2015, Jokowi promised that he would build the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed train without the state budget. The train will be built in cooperation with foreign parties. Jokowi reasoned that he did not want to burden the state budget.

"We don't want to put a burden on the state budget. So I have decided that the fast train does not use the state budget, there is no guarantee from the government. Therefore, I leave it to SOEs to do what is called B to B, business," said Jokowi as reported by the press. from the official website of the Cabinet Secretariat.

But again Jokowi changed his mind. Through Presidential Decree No. 93/2021, Jokowi has decided to give an injection of state funds to the high-speed train project. The injection of state funds is given through state capital participation (PMN) to PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero). The PMN was given because Jokowi changed the structure of the project consortium which was originally led by PT Wijaya Karya Persero Tbk (WIKA) to PT KAI.

It was reported that the investment needs for the project swelled from US$ 6.07 billion or around Rp. 86.67 trillion (exchange rate of Rp. 14,280 per US dollar) to US$ 8 billion or equivalent to Rp. 114.24 trillion.

President Joko Widodo (Photo: Antara)
Tax amnesty

Jokowi has also said that tax amnesty is an opportunity that will not be repeated. Jokowi said it on July 1, 2016.

"This opportunity will not happen again. So the tax amnesty is an opportunity that will not happen again. This is the last one. Those who want to use it please, those who don't, be careful," said Jokowi.

However, the Minister of Finance (Menkeu) Sri Mulyani said that the government would open a tax amnesty facility starting January 1, 2022. This became a decision after the Law on Harmonization of Tax Regulations (HPP) was passed on October 12, 2021.

"The Voluntary Disclosure Program (PPS) is expected to increase taxpayer compliance which is valid for 6 months starting January 1, 2022," he said at a press conference, citing a VOI article entitled "UU HPP Enacted, Sri Mulyani Provides Tax Amnesty Starting January 1, 2022".

According to Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani, the second volume of tax amnesty can encourage the public to report or disclose so that they can fulfill their tax obligations, especially Income Tax (PPh). In addition, the second volume of tax amnesty focuses on two major steps. First, individual taxpayers or business entities whose assets have not been reported until December 31, 2015.

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