Government Is Unclear In CEIR And IMEI Rules Only Looking For A Tax Profit Niche?

smartphone illustration (Jonah Petrich / Unsplash)

JAKARTA - The operation of the Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) system to block International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) on black market (BM) cellphones has not yet been implemented. Finally, there is information that the regulation will be enacted on August 24, 2020.

According to gadget observer, Lucky Sebastian, this is because the standard of operation (SOP) is not clear what to do. Because, the government is required to be strict in regulating the IMEI rules.

"Reportedly the engine is ready now, only the SOP seems not finished. Because this is the collaboration of many parties, the Ministry of Industry, Ministry of Trade, Communication and Information Technology, plus the Ministry of Finance and Operators as executors, it is necessary to clarify the implementation," said Lucky when contacted by VOI , Thursday 27 August.

From Lucky's account, a number of regulations and details for the community must also be clarified. So as not to cause confusion, let alone misunderstanding. Because, "some are still in draft or proposal form."

In addition, because seeing the IMEI rules being continuously pulled back and forth by the government, many have also raised suspicions that the policy is only a land to seek profit from taxes.

On the one hand, Lucky did not respond significantly to this, but he also did not deny that one of the sources of tax income was the sales of BM phones. Therefore, the government is quite fighting for this rule.

"Indeed, BM smartphones, which reportedly reach up to 20 percent of all smartphones circulating in Indonesia, are one of the sources of leaking taxes. That's why they are attractive because they tend to be cheaper, because they do not pass valid permits and do not pay taxes," said Lucky.

But overall, Lucky stated that if the IMEI blocking system could work, there were many other things besides taxes. For example, people get official smartphones with guaranteed authenticity and after-sales service.

"Also, because it passes the test center, the signal, Wi-Fi, bluetooth, comply with the official frequency in Indonesia and will not interfere," explained Lucky.

In fact, said Lucky, if a smartphone is lost, users who lose it can report it and block it, to reduce theft interest.

With the increased capacity for official goods, it will also open up bigger jobs, for example the addition of factories which in addition to providing jobs for the workers, also for the environmental ecosystem.

Finally, because the implementation of this rule continues to delay, Lucky cannot confirm when the policy will run, "the delayed schedule could happen again, because until now there has been no official development or information from related parties regarding the readiness of this IMEI blocking system.