REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA — Finance Minister Yudhi Sadewa confirmed that he does not plan to impose taxes on ships passing through the waters of the Strait of Malacca. The affirmation was to clarify the news that called itself proposing a tax rate hike in the region.
“That's the context not the serious context. We have never planned to levy (taxes),” Purbaya told reporters in Jakarta on Friday (24/4/2026).
Purbaya made sure he understood the agreement of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
He understands this because it was one of the areas he dealt with when he served as Deputy for Coordination of Maritime Sovereignty and Energy of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Investment Coordinator in May 2018 to September 2020.
One of the key points of UNCLOS is freedom of navigation. In this context, Purbaya guarantees that Indonesia upholds the law of the sea in these international waters.
“In that freedom of navigation we are obliged to allow ships to pass in our EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone), even we have to maintain security there,” Purbaya explained.
The state treasurer again underlined that Indonesia will not violate international laws that have already been ratified.
“We have ratified UNCLOS and we will uphold the law we have already signed,” he stressed.
Earlier, Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono stated that Indonesia would not impose tariffs on the Strait of Malacca.
He reiterated that Indonesia respects international law, in particular the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
In this regard, the Strait of Malacca is one of the international shipping lanes and is legitimate to pass through according to Articles 37, 38, and 39 of UNCLOS ratified by Indonesia.
According to Sugiono, UNCLOS is an agreement that Indonesia is recognized as an island nation as long as the country does not impose tariffs on the straits that exist within its territory.
Sugiono also reiterated that Indonesia supports freedom of navigation and expects a smooth and mutually beneficial sea traffic.
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