Minister of State Apparatus Utilization and Bureaucratic Reform, Rini Widyantini, has confirmed that the proposed freezing of 16,000 employees within the Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DJBC) is permissible under existing regulations. This significant discussion arises amid growing public distrust concerning the institution’s integrity and performance.
Despite the legal grounds, Rini emphasized the necessity of a thorough investigation into the roles and functions of Civil Servants (ASN) within the DJBC before proceeding with such a drastic measure. “If ASNs are found to have issues, we can deactivate them. However, it’s not certain that all DJBC employees are problematic. I must first assess the conditions within the DJBC,” Rini stated during a press briefing at the Coordinating Ministry for Food Affairs office on Wednesday, December 3.
Earlier, Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa highlighted the dire state of the DJBC’s image, noting its poor perception across media, the public, and even in the eyes of President Prabowo Subianto. According to Purbaya, the consideration of freezing DJBC operations stems directly from the rampant cases of illegal trade often linked to the agency’s alleged involvement or oversight.
Purbaya even suggested that if the DJBC’s performance continues to pose a serious threat, it could potentially be replaced by an external entity like Societe Generale de Surveillance (SGS), a model reminiscent of the New Order era. Nevertheless, the Finance Minister revealed he has secured a one-year window from President Prabowo Subianto to initiate crucial customs reform and rectify the institution’s deep-seated issues.
“I have requested a year from President (Prabowo Subianto) not to be disturbed. Let me sort it out, to improve Customs and Excise,” Purbaya asserted after a working meeting with House of Representatives (DPR) Commission XI in Jakarta on Thursday, November 27. His remarks underscore a commitment to internal restructuring and a plea for time to execute necessary changes.
The Minister elaborated that an urgent internal cleanup within the Directorate General of Customs and Excise is paramount to enhancing supervisory processes and overall customs services. A myriad of challenges currently plagues the DJBC, including allegations of under-invoicing transaction manipulation and the persistent infiltration of illegal goods into the country, which severely undermine public confidence and national revenue.
Furthermore, Finance Minister Purbaya disclosed findings from an internal investigation that revealed significant trade data discrepancies among Indonesia, China, and Singapore. The probe uncovered a peculiar practice where goods originating from China are frequently shipped to Singapore first before being routed to Indonesia. This indirect transit often results in China’s direct export data to Indonesia appearing inconsistent, as a substantial portion is initially recorded as exports to Singapore.
These findings create a perplexing anomaly in China’s reported export figures to Indonesia. However, when China’s export data to Singapore is aggregated with records of goods moving from Singapore to Indonesia, the combined sum closely aligns with Indonesia’s actual import data. This intricate trade pattern raises concerns about transparency and potential irregularities.
“It appears that’s what’s happening. And we will investigate all types of exports to determine if this pattern persists, or if there is any form of embezzlement involved. We are currently undertaking this analysis manually,” stated the former Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the Deposit Insurance Agency (LPS), signaling a meticulous and ongoing effort to unravel these complex trade issues and ensure accountability within the DJBC.
Summary
Minister of State Apparatus Utilization and Bureaucratic Reform, Rini Widyantini, confirmed that freezing 16,000 Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DJBC) employees is legally permissible due to growing public distrust. However, she emphasized the necessity of a thorough investigation into individual Civil Servants (ASN) before such drastic measures. Separately, Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa noted DJBC’s poor public image, citing rampant illegal trade linked to the agency’s alleged involvement. He even suggested its potential replacement by an external entity like SGS if performance does not improve.
Purbaya has secured a one-year window from President Prabowo Subianto to initiate crucial customs reform and rectify the institution’s deep-seated issues. This involves an urgent internal cleanup to enhance supervisory processes and overall customs services, addressing allegations of under-invoicing and the persistent infiltration of illegal goods. An internal investigation also revealed significant trade data discrepancies among Indonesia, China, and Singapore, with goods often routed indirectly, leading to inconsistent direct export figures. This intricate trade pattern is currently being analyzed to identify potential irregularities or embezzlement within DJBC.
