JAKARTA - The rampant practice of illegal levies at various tourist destinations on the island of Lombok shows that this problem cannot be solved with only symbolic steps. The installation of banners that read "free parking" or "free area" is not considered effective enough without being accompanied by real and sustainable enforcement.
Facts on the ground show that even in modern retail areas such as Indomaret and Alfamart which clearly list the writing "free parking", parking officers who are suspected of illegally collecting fees from visitors are still often found. This condition strengthens the impression that the practice of extortion has been considered a common thing.
The regional government together with law enforcement officers is considered to take firm steps to regulate illegal levies, especially in tourist areas. If left unchecked, this practice has the potential to cause trauma for tourists and negatively impact the image of Lombok tourism.
Until now, pungli has often been considered trivial because the nominal amount requested is relatively small. However, if calculated cumulatively, the amount of money collected by the perpetrators can be very large and even exceed the provincial and district/city minimum wage.
For example, parking practices in the Pusuk Sembalun area. Assuming there are 50 car units and 100 motorcycle units per day, the total parking fee can reach Rp. 1 million. If this activity lasts full for a month, the potential for collected money reaches Rp. 30 million, or around Rp. 360 million in a year. This amount does not include additional fees for tourists who just stop to take photos.
Therefore, action against extortioners needs to be carried out openly and publicized through mass media and social media. This step is important to create a deterrent effect while building public confidence that the government is serious about addressing this issue.
The application of sanctions must also be consistent, ranging from reprimands, administrative fines, to revocation of permits or rights to operate in tourist areas. Law enforcement must be carried out without discrimination, including if the perpetrator represents local residents or indigenous communities.
Legally, illegal levies are not a minor offense. This practice can be categorized as extortion with a maximum prison sentence of nine years in accordance with Article 368 of the Criminal Code (KUHP).
In fact, if the extortioner has the status of a state civil servant, honorary staff, ticket officer, or official parking attendant, his actions can be charged with the Corruption Crime Act with a threat of imprisonment of between four to 20 years and a fine ranging from Rp. 200 million to Rp. 1 billion.
With this strong legal basis, tourists are expected to no longer feel afraid or hesitate to report extortion practices. Firm action is the key to making Lombok known again as a safe, comfortable, and ethical tourist destination.
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