A boycott is an act that is not legally justified.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - A legislator has criticized the tax boycott movement on social media, saying that it might have an impact on national development.

"That can't be the case. A boycott is an act that is not legally justified," said Hendrawan Supratikno, a member of the House of Representatives' Commission XI, in a statement received here on Wednesday.

The boycott call has spread recently on social media amid negative public sentiment surrounding the wealth of Rafael Alun Trisambodo, an official at the Directorate General of Taxes at the Ministry of Finance.

With his position as a middle-level official, Trisambodo’s wealth of up to Rp56 billion (around US$3.7 million) has aroused public suspicion.

The lavish lifestyle of some government officials has been in the spotlight following an assault case involving Trisambodo's son, Mario Dandy Satrio.

Satrio was known to have posted pictures of luxury cars and big bikes on social media. When he allegedly carried out the assault in South Jakarta, he reportedly took a Rubicon Jeep SUV with him.

The legislator called on the public to not give a bad label to all employees of the Directorate General of Taxes. He expressed hope that there will be internal improvements in the Ministry of Finance.

"The Ministry of Finance must translate the (government's) Mental Revolution into performance measurement indicators. Then these indicators are socialized aggressively," he said.

Chairperson of the Nahdlatul Ulama Executive Board (PBNU), Ahmad Fahrurrozi, also shared his censure of the tax boycott movement.

The public, he said, may be disappointed, but they should not express it in the wrong way by refusing to pay taxes.

"We have an obligation to obey. Taxes are related to the survival of the nation. This country is more expensive than just an individual person," he added.

Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati has taken firm steps in the aftermath of the assault case by removing Trisambodo from his position.

She appealed to all employees of the ministry to conform to the principles of decency and appropriateness.

She reminded state officials and civil servants in her ministry not to flaunt their wealth in public.

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Translator: Boyke L Watra, Sri Haryati
Editor: Anton Santoso
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