TMII Polemic, Never Deposit Tax Until Taken Over The State

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. Between)

JAKARTA - Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII), a tourist attraction located in East Jakarta, has been in the spotlight for the past month. For almost 46 years of existence, TMII has been shrouded in various polemics. Starting from the development is opposed, never deposited taxes until finally taken over by the state.

Summarized from various sources, Monday, April 12, the following polemics that have enveloped TMII:

1. The development is opposed

It is said that the construction of TMII was inspired by Disneyland. Not just any imitation. Siti Hartinah aka Mrs. Tien Soeharto wants TMII to be Disneyland with a more spiritual version. Quoted from the Ministry of Education and Culture website, the basic concept of TMII in Bu Tien's head is for TMII to be a miniature of Indonesia with all its wealth. Ms. Tien wants the pride of Indonesia to grow on the chest of every citizen.

TMII was built in 1972 and inaugurated on April 20, 1975. TMII is managed under Harapan Kita Foundation, with Ms. Tien as its chairman. Since the will of the TMII development project was triggered, there has been a wave of rejection. Ms. Tien's idea was opposed by students and intellectuals.

There was one group that gave the harshest criticism of Ms. Tien's idea. The group is called the Movement for Austerity (Gepeng), which consists of 10 people.

What Ms. Tien did was considered contrary to Suharto's call that at that time urged the heads of the regions and all communities to save money.

"Do not do extravagances because most of the people are still living poor", Suharto said in a meeting with the governor, referring to the Crossing the Path of Authoritarian Military Power (2004) by Rum Aly and Hatta Albanik.

In addition to spending central money and local money, the TMII project also involves many other parties. It is said that the funds needed at that time ranged from $100 to $300 million, with an exchange rate of IDR200 at that time. This news was denied by Ms. Tien who mentioned the cost of development is IDR10 billion.

2. Threatened to be confiscated by Singaporean companies

Singaporean company Mitora Pte Ltd asked the Purna Bhakti Pertiwi Museum located in TMII to be confiscated. It is stated in the Mitora lawsuit filed to 5 children of President Suharto through the District Court (PN) South Jakarta.

"A plot of land covering an area of +/- 20 ha (approximately twenty hectares) and buildings that stand on it along with all its contents that exist and are attached and become an integral entity, namely the Purna Bhakti Pertiwi Museum and Puri Jati Ayu", the lawsuit reads, quoted by VOI, Monday, April 12.

The company is also known to be involved in TMII development projects. Quoted from PSUD's official website, the project is a TMII area development that brings together art and technology. The design of the project was published in 2014, which noted Mitora as a client.

The company filed its lawsuit in March 2021. The value of the lawsuit reached IDR584 billion consisting of IDR84 billion to pay obligations and IDR500 billion in immaterial damages.

Mitora's lawsuit filed against 5 children of President Suharto is registered with the number 244/Pdt.G/2021/PN JKT.SEL. The defendants include:

1. Purna Bhakti Pertiwi Foundation

2. Mrs. Siti Hardiyanti Hastuti Rukmana

3. Mr. H. Bambang Trihatmodjo

4. Mrs. Siti Hediati Hariyadi

5. Mr. H Sigit Harjojudanto

6. Mrs. Siti Hutami Endang Adiningsih

3. Not pay taxes

In October 2018, the East Jakarta City Government sealed off several buildings that were reported to be tax-deductible. The arrears of three TMII rides worth IDR1.9 billion were never paid. However, at that time, the East Jakarta Municipality did not close the operation of the 3 rides, and could still be opened to serve visitors.

Based on data from the East Jakarta Regional Tax and Levy Agency, tax arrears of some rides in TMII amounted to IDR1.9 billion. The details, Snowbay tax arrears IDR871 million, Theater Imax Keong Mas IDR386 million, and Taman Aquarium Air Tawar delinquent IDR360 million. Then Skylift cable car delinquent IDR168 million, Desa Wisata IDR74 million, and Sasono Langgeng Budoyo IDR79 million.

However, the management of Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII) denied that it had never deposited its income to the country. The Audit Board of the Financial Examiner (BPK) conducted against TMII in 2018-2020 did not find cases that resulted in state losses.

President Director of TMII Tanribali Lamo said the manager could not do things that violate the rules because it is supervised by the CPC. If Taman Mini does not carry out deposits, revenue sharing, and so on, management will be reprimanded by BPK. So far the CPC has stated no state losses.

"If we look at this statement then actually nothing else has never been deposited to TMII as long as it becomes TMII obligation", he said, in a virtual press conference, Sunday, April 11.

4. Taken over by the state

The Ministry of State Secretariat took over the management of TMII from the Harapan Kita Foundation. This was done after President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) issued Presidential Decree No. 19 of 2021.

For information, Harapan Kita Foundation was founded on August 23, 1968 by Siti Hartinah or the wife of the second President of Indonesia Soeharto, Tien Soeharto. Currently the foundation is built by Soehardjo, Bambang Trihatmodjo, and Rusmono and Siti Hardiyanti Indra Rukmana as Chairman.

"The point of mastery and management of Taman Mini Indonesia Indah is done by the Ministry of Finance and means that this also stops the management that has been done by Harapan Kita Foundation", said Minister of State Secretariat Pratikno in a press conference held virtually, Wednesday, April 7.

Pratikno said that this decision was made through a long discussion and listened to recommendations from several parties including the CPC.

"So Yayasan Harapan Kita has been managing this state-owned for almost 44 years, which is listed in the Ministry of State Secretariat and we are obliged to make arrangements", he said

After TMII is taken by the Ministry of Finance, said Pratikno, it will make arrangements so that an area of 1,467,704 square meters can be used by the community. According to him, this kind of thing has also been done to Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) and Kemayoran golf course.

In the future, this area will also be optimized with various functions. In addition to educational facilities, TMII will also be a playground or theme park with international standards.