Indonesia President Jokowi to Socialize Tax Amnesty Program in Singapore

President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo is scheduled to visit Singapore to lure wealthy Indonesians living in the island state to repatriate their money, benefiting Indonesia’s tax amnesty program. The amnesty started in July 2016 and will end in March 2017 as stipulated by the current Tax Amnesty Law. (Globalindonesianvoices)

The President said he will also visit large cities in Indonesia to socialize the tax amnesty. “I will go to Singapore, and then Makassar, Semarang, Bandung, to all (large cities). I will personally go there,” the President told a gathering of tax officials at the State Palace on Thursday (28/7) as reported by Detik.com. The President said on the occasion that his direct presence in Singapore is meant to show his government’s seriousness to make the tax amnesty program a success.

“I intend to send out the message that the government is serious, and that we are going all out for tax amnesty,” he said. The President added, “We work very hard, but if implementation on the ground is not well prepared, we lose (our opportunity). I repeat, be proactive, pick up the ball and don’t scare (people) off,” the President noted.

Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister for the Economy Darmin Nasution said the President has clear reason to socialize the tax amnesty program in Singapore.

“There is no need to question why (Singapore). Numerous Indonesians live and make investment in Singapore,” Minister Darmin told reporters at the presidential office on Thursday (28/7) as reported by Detik.com. Minister Darmin did not mention when the President’s visits to Singapore and the Indonesian major cities will take place. He only said that the President’s schedule was being worked out and that the visits would take place as soon as possible.