The Minister Of Trade Admits That The Presence Of The Task Force Does Not Make The Existence Of Illegal Imported Goods Lost

Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan. (Photo: Mery Handayani/VOI)

JAKARTA - Minister of Trade (Mendag) Zulkifli Hasan said the government continues to strive to eradicate illegal imports entering Indonesia. One of them is by forming an illegal import task force (Satgas).

However, the man who is familiarly called Zulhas admitted that the presence of this Illegal Import Task Force also did not make imported goods disappear. In fact, he likened illegal importers to stronger germs.

"Some time ago, we formed an alternative task force. I just noticed that if we made the Task Force, such as germs, the task force would be stronger, more sophisticated," he said during a speech at the Central and Regional Trade Civil Servant Investigator Coordination Forum (PPNS), in Jakarta, Wednesday, August 21.

"It's not gone like that. It's turned off, it's getting stronger. This is actually what happened," he continued.

As is known, the Task Force for Supervision of Certain Goods or illegal imports was officially formed on July 19, 2024. The task force will end in December 2024.

Therefore, Zulhas asked the Head of the Trade Policy Agency (BKPerdag), Kasan to conduct detailed research on what is happening in the field so that illegal imported goods can enter Indonesia.

"That's why I did this, Mr. Kasan tried it later in detail, yes, we will comprehensively research. What really happened. So that later we can't refuse anymore," he said.

According to Zulhas, this research also needs to involve experts from various universities. For example, he said, from the University of Indonesia.

"Ask from UI if necessary. Markets, wholesale market centers. Tanah Abang, Manggadua, East Java, Jakarta, West Java, Central Java, North Sumatra, Makassar. Asked. Where did the goods come from in that market? So if that's the case, it will be discovered," he said.

Zulhas also asked all parties who are members of the Illegal Import Task Force to work seriously with the same goal, namely making Indonesia a developed country in 2045.

"I ask us to be a team from the National Police Headquarters, the Attorney General's Office, Kumham, the Head of the Service, we are a team. Like football. So if one team to do the task must be solid, strong cooperation. Because if there is one person who has an own goal, now it has disbanded," he explained.