SBY calls for tax office reform

Nani Afrida, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Mon, 01/10/2011

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono called for tax office reform as part of efforts to tackle corruption and collusion.

“[We have to] prevent and eradicate corruption and collusion in tax offices. I am afraid there are big octopuses in those offices and we must cut them before they spread to other places,” Yudhoyono said during a meeting with ministers, governors and mayors at the Jakarta Convention Center’s main hall on Monday.

Yudhoyono urged all government officials to stay away from corrupt practices.

“I urge [government officials] not to jack up prices in procurement projects, not to use state money for political interests or illegally tax investors,” he said.

“I was sad when I had to sign [letters to approve] an investigation implicating government officials,” he said. “Sometime they were even not aware that what they had done was corrupt. So, we must reprimand them.