APSYFI Asks Prabowo To Immediately Intervene In Overcoming Textile Import Mafia

Secretary General of APSYFI Farhan Aqil Syauqi. (Photo: ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The Association of Indonesian Filamentary Filaments and Fiaments Manufacturers (APSyFI) together with the Alumni Corps of the Islamic Student Association (KAHMI) Rayon Textile asked President Prabowo Subianto to immediately address the alleged textile import mafia.

Previously, APSYFI had reported the matter to the Ministry of Industry (Kemenperin).

APSYFI Secretary General Farhan Aqil Syauqi said the alleged mafia stemmed from a surge in imports of yarn and fabrics.

Even though 60 domestic companies that produce goods have been forced to close and terminate their employment (PHK).

Aqil emphasized that the government is obliged to maintain the availability of raw materials from upstream to downstream as well as the sustainability of the industrial chain. He assessed that dependence on imports to replace domestic production shows the government's failure to maintain the supply ecosystem.

This condition also suppresses the upstream textile sector integrated with Petrokimia.

"In fact, the textile sector to the upstream sector is closely integrated with the petrochemical sector whose performance is also affected by the excessive import permits issued by the Ministry of Industry," said Aqil in a written statement received by VOI, Monday, August 25.

Previously, the Minister of Industry (Menperin) Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita emphasized that his party would follow up on allegations of textile import mafias and ask for concrete evidence.

"If there is a mafia in our office, tell us, don't cover it up. Tell us what his name is, we will definitely clean it up. We have no doubts about taking firm steps," he said.

However, Aqil assessed that evidence of the existence of the mafia was at the Ministry of Industry.

According to him, so far officials who have the authority to provide import quotas have never been transparent.

He found that there are companies that only get a quota of 30 percent of the production capacity, while other companies can get a share of up to 100 percent.

"In fact, it is suspected that there are more than 20 companies owned by only four people," he said.

According to Aqil, Minister of Industry Agus should simply examine officials in his ministry.

"So, if the Minister (Agus Gumiwang) needs evidence, it's just a matter of checking the officials to provide an import quota in the last 8 years and who are the other officials who influence it," he said.

Akibat adanya praktik tersebut, Aqil bilang, sudah ada lima anggota APSYFI menutup usaha dan melakukan pekerjaran.

The five companies include PT Panasia; PT Polychem Indonesia; PT Sulindafin; PT Rayon Utama Makmur and PT Asia Pacific Fiber in Karawang.

Lebih lanjut, Aqil juga membantah tuduhan APSyFI gemar melakukan impor. Menurutnya, anggota APSyFI merupakan produsen hulu tekstil yang memproduksi serat dan benang filamen.

"Kalaupun anggota kami perlu impor, yang diimpor adalah bahan baku berupa asam tereftalat, etilen glycol atau polyester chip. Jadi, kalau ada anggota kami mendapat kuota impor kain dalam jumlah besar, perlu diperiksa adalah pejabat Kemenperin yang kasih kuota," ungkapnya.

Sementara itu, Sekretaris Jenderal KAHMI Rayon Tekstil Agus Riyanto menambahkan, pihaknya menerima salinan surat Asosiasi Pengusaha Sandang Indonesia kepada Menperin yang melaporkan dugaan pungli oknum ASN soal penerbitan pertimbangan teknis (Pertek).

Dia juga memegang salinan dua surat APSyFI meminta transparansi pemberian kuota impor serta surat KAHMI Rayon Tekstil yang dikirim langsung ke Menperin.

"Kami kira Pak Menteri abai dan tidak menanggapi aduan secara formal sampai masalah ini mencuat di media," jelas Agus.

Agus menilai, sikap abai pemerintah memicu PHK massal dan deindustrialisasi dini si sektor tekstil.

Karena itu, dia meminta, Presiden Prabowo segera turun tangan.

"Kami menduga, jaringan mafia ini sudah menjadi sindikat yang terus-menerus melemahkan industri. Kami memohon, Bapak Presiden Prabowo segera turun tangan untuk menyelamatkan industri TPT dan rakyatnya dari ancaman PHK ulah sindikat mafia impor ini," pungkasnya.

Furthermore, Aqil also denied that APSyFI's accusations of wanting to import. According to him, APSYFI members are upstream textile producers who produce fiber and filamentary threads.

"Even if our members need to import, what is imported is raw material in the form of tereftlate acid, ethylene glycol or polyester chip. So, if there are members, we get a large quota of imported fabrics, it needs to be examined, it is the Ministry of Industry officials who give quotas," he said.

Meanwhile, KAHMI Secretary General Rayon Textile Agus Riyanto added that his party received a copy of the Indonesian Sandang Entrepreneurs Association letter to the Minister of Industry who reported the alleged extortion of ASN individuals regarding the issuance of technical considerations (Pertek).

He also holds a copy of two APSYFI letters asking for transparency in the provision of imported quotas and a textile KAHMI Rayon letter sent directly to the Minister of Industry.

"We think the Minister ignored and did not respond to formal complaints until this issue emerged in the media," explained Agus.

Agus menilai, sikap abai pemerintah memicu PHK massal dan deindustrialisasi dini si sektor tekstil.

- https://voi.id/ekonomi/508503/sandiaga-uno-targetkan-zap-clinic-hingga-bobobox-melantai-di-bei-3-tahun-mendatang

- https://voi.id/ekonomi/508501/ahy-jadi-dewan-pengarah-badan-otorita-pantura-bisa-efektif-lagi-bekerja-di-lapangan

- https://voi.id/ekonomi/508485/ada-5-negara-berminat-investasi-pltn-di-indonesia

[/see_also]

Agus assessed that the government's neglect attitude triggered mass layoffs and early deindustrialization of the textile sector.

Therefore, he asked President Prabowo to step in immediately.

"We suspect that this mafia network has become a syndicate that continues to weaken the industry. We ask that President Prabowo immediately intervene to save the TPT industry and its people from the threat of layoffs by this imported mafia syndicate," he concluded.