TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Police's Special Anti-corruption Task Force, the Trade Ministry, and the Industry Ministry destroyed thousands of tons of steel worth Rp32 billion (around US$2.1 million) in Tangerang, Thursday, January 12. The products destroyed were Concrete Reinforcing Steel Products (BjTB) of certain brands that did not meet the quality requirements of the Indonesian National Standard (SNI).

Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan witnessed the extermination.

Novel Baswedan, deputy chief of the Anti-corruption Task Force, said the was a collaboration between his division, the Directorate General of Consumer Protection and Commerce (PKTN), the Ministry of Trade, the Ministry of Industry, and the Provincial Office of Industry and Trade of Banten.

Previously, the PKTN confiscated 419,537 pieces of steel rods with a total weight of 2,302 tons worth Rp32.22 billion at PT Long Teng Iron and Steel Products, Tangerang. The destruction of the goods was a form of administrative sanction, as the company violated Trade Minister's Regulation No. 69/2018 on Supervision of Circulating Goods and/or Services.

Novel Baswedan said that the destruction of the steel goods was an effort to prevent corruption while at the same time protecting the public as consumers—ensuring they get the best products that comply with safety standards.

Yudi Purnomo Harahap, a member of the Police's Special Anti-corruption Task Force, said that steel is one of the biggest, most tradable national commodities. Thus, traded steel goods meet national standards to prevent losses from infrastructure damage or service life that is shorter than expected.

Eka Yudha Saputra

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