REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) will be immediately in charge of cracking down on the international cartel networks, Chairman Syarkawi Rauf said at a press conference here on Tuesday. 

However, the measure could be implemented if the parliament finishes discussing the revision of Law No.5/1999 on the Ban of Monopolistic Practice and Unjust Business Competition. 

Rauf explained that the law revision has five major notions, including changing the definition of businessmen who could be punished if they violate the regulation. 

"By revising the definition, KPPU will have an authority to crack down on the networks of international cartels which stayed outside the country. Therefore, the measure will not only improve the country's national economy but will serve as a preventive action toward the crime," Rauf remarked at the KPPU office in Jakarta. 

The chairman noted that before the parliament revised the law, the commission was only authorized to crack down on domestic cartels. 

He further stated the world now had adopted free market systems, including ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), which was practiced by Southeast Asia countries. Hence, any further measure will be no longer restricted by the countries' borders. 

Hence, the KPPU called on the parliament to strengthen the commission's authority in cracking down business crimes that affected Indonesia's economy. 

"For instance, there is a Singapore's businessman who set a monopolistic tariff for exporting containers to Indonesia. Although the company was set in Singapore, its cartel practice was practiced in Indonesia. Therefore, the commission requires more authorities to crack down on international business crimes," he reiterated. 

Rauf added that the revision was now being discussed by the parliament. The reviewing process, which was attended by the ministries of finance, law and human rights, industry, as well as the presidential staff, is led by the Trade Ministry.

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