Golkar Warns Government Against Politicking
Tuesday, 02 March, 2010 | 02:06 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: Golkar Party has launched a counter measure against the government in the spat on tax evasion cases faced by the business of its leader, Aburizal Bakrie by warning the government against using political tools in settling the case while itself officially embarked on the strategy to face the government.

In a hearing between the Law Commission ar the House of Representatives and investigators from the Taxation Directorate of the Finance Department and the National Police on Monday (1/3), lawmakers from Golkar told tax officials to stick to their core duty which is to collect taxes instead of trying to identify criminal offense in violations made by tax payers.

Edison Betaubun said the “Taxation Directorate should not be a political tool in uncovering tax violations.” While Bambang Soesatyo reminded the tax office that tax is an economic instrument not apolitical one.

NudirmanMunir another lawmaker from Golkar said the tax office should apply business and persuasive approach before handing over any tax case to the police.

Early in February Golkar started toresponded openly over tax evasion remarks madeby President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono after fierce attacks by oppositions at the ruling party made through the Bank Century bail out case.

Oppositions said there were indications of illegal campaign contributions from the rescued bank for Yudhoyono’s Democratic Party in the last elections and the ruling party made its move against Golkar after the case was drilled by a the bail out committee.

AGOENG WIJAYA