Discourse On Food VAT, PKS: Stop Testing People's Patience

Illustrated. (Irfan Meidianto / VOI)

JAKARTA - Member of Commission IX DPR RI Netty Prasetiyani Aher asked the government to stop testing people's patience by imposing Value Added Tax (VAT) for basic goods. He reminded the government to cancel the plan.

"The plan to impose VAT on basic necessities must be canceled. The government must be sensitive to the current condition of society," said Netty, Thursday, June 10.

"Stop testing people's patience by making unreasonable policies," he stressed.

According to the PKS politician, the policy does not make sense because it can add to the burden on the people who are currently struggling in the midst of a pandemic. Where this policy will increase the price of groceries.

"Of course, it will burden people who are panting because of the impact of the pandemic," he explained.

Currently, said the West Java legislator, many people are living hard because their incomes have decreased or have lost their jobs. Moreover, people's purchasing power is still declining.

"This is a policy that is not pro-people," he explained.

Therefore, Netty reminded the government to think hard in finding sources of state revenue. The government, he said, should not only look for the easy way. "Does the government no longer know how to find sources of state revenue except by collecting taxes from the people? Even basic food items are taxed and the tax value is increased. become an easy way to raise money," he said. Netty assessed that the government should be more creative in seeking sources of state revenue from other sectors. And serious about efficiency in budget management and ensuring that there is no corruption or budget leakage.

"Instead of looking for an easy way by collecting taxes from the people," he said, Netty also reminded the government of its duty to create as much prosperity as possible for the people, not to cause misery.

"The imposition of VAT on basic necessities will make the people more suffocated. The number of poor families will increase and will certainly have an impact on health standards," he explained.

He is concerned that with this policy, more and more families will find it difficult to meet nutritional standards for children, and it could even threaten to increase stunting and malnutrition rates.

"Right now, our stunting and malnutrition rates are still high, even our stunting is the fourth highest in the world," said Netty.

It is known that the government plans to impose a Value Added Tax (VAT) on basic goods needed by many people.

The policy will be contained in the expansion of the object of VAT which is regulated in the revision of Law Number 6 of 1983 concerning General Provisions and Tax Procedures (KUP). PMK.010/2017.

These goods include rice and grain, corn, sago, soybeans, consumption salt, meat, eggs, milk, fruits, vegetables, sweet potatoes, spices, and consumable sugar.