InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA – After Badan Pengawasan Keuangan dan Pembangunan (BPKP) did audit, it was found that of 14,6 million hectares palm oil plantations, only 7,3 million hectares of just paid taxes to the country.

But when BPKP re-did audit palm oil plantations that laid about 20,4 million hectares, the planted ones laid about 16,8 million hectares. 9 million hectares do not pay taxes.

From the information, Coordinator Ministry in Maritime and Investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan delivered suggestion for President Joko Widodo not to do legal acts for the companies not paying taxes.

Pandjaitan suggested President Joko Widodo to get penalty for plantation owners that do not pay taxes. This is regulated in the Decision of Minister of Environment and Forestry (MEF) because it is possible to get penalty.

“Everything is in digital. I told to President that the case should not be taken into legal sue. So what? The point is the penalty. How much the numbers in MEF, they have to pay. If not, the government would take over (their plantations),” Pandjaitan said, as quoted from CNN Indonesia, Tuesday (9/5/2023).

He continued, instead of being taken to the court, just like Bantuan Likuiditas Bank Indonesia (BLBI) which until now, it has no solution. “The court has many kinds. It is better to make it simple,” Pandjaitan said. (T2)