JAKARTA - Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa confirmed that he did not plan to impose taxes on ships passing 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 context is not a serious context. We have never planned to collect (taxes)," said Purbaya as quoted by ANTARA, Friday, April 24.
Purbaya ensured that he understood the agreement of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
He understands this because he was one of his concerns when he served as Deputy for Maritime Sovereignty and Energy Coordination of the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment from May 2018 to 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.
"In freedom of navigation, we are required to allow ships to 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.
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