Coordinating Minister Luhut Admits There Is A Monopolistic Practice Of Lobster Seed Exports

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan. (Photo: Instagram @ luhut, pandjaitan)

JAKARTA - The Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment as well as the Minister of KKP Ad Interim Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan confirmed the monopolistic practice in the lobster seed export process.

However, Luhut emphasized that there was nothing wrong with the Ministerial Regulation Number 12 of 2020 concerning Lobster, Crab and Crab in the Indonesian Territory which was published in the Edhy Prabowo era. It's just that in implementation there are problems.

"Meanwhile, what is wrong is monopoly, such as transportation that should not happen," he said, when met at the KKP office, Jakarta, Friday, November 27.

As is known, yesterday, the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) decided to temporarily suspend the issuance of a Letter of Determination of the Release Time (SPWP) for the export of clear lobster seeds (BBL). Along with the arrest of KKP Minister Edhy Prabowo.

The temporary suspension of lobster seed exports will take effect from Thursday, November 26, until an undetermined time.

The decision to temporarily suspend the issuance of SPWP is based on Circular Letter Number B. 22891 / DJPT / PI.130 / XI / 2020 signed by Plt. KKP's Director General of Capture Fisheries Muhammad Zaini on Thursday, November 26.

Regarding the continuation of the lobster seed export policy itself, according to Luhut, it is currently being evaluated. This will be carried out during the next week to make a decision whether this policy will be continued or not.

"Mr. Secretary General of the KKP (Antam Novambar), with the team is currently evaluating. Later in the next week it will be reported to me," he said.

For your information, the issue of monopoly in the process of transporting lobster seed exports was previously conveyed by the Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU), a week before Edhy Prabowo was caught in the hands of the KPK regarding the alleged bribery case for lobster seed export permits.

Member and Spokesperson for KPPU, Guntur Syahputra Saragih, said that the suspicion of monopoly arose because the shipment of lobster seeds was only done at one airport, namely Soekarno-Hatta Airport.

Because of that, said Guntur, the KPPU decided to conduct a case study on the initiative on these business practices starting this month.