JAKARTA — Indonesia’s finance minister has suggested the possibility of imposing a levy on ships passing through the Malacca Strait, framing the idea as part of efforts to better capitalise on the country’s position along one of the world’s busiest trade routes.
Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa said the proposal reflects a broader push to strengthen Indonesia’s role in global trade and energy flows, in line with President Prabowo Subianto’s vision of the country as a key economic player rather than a peripheral state.
Speaking at a symposium in Jakarta on April 22, he noted that large volumes of international shipping pass through the strait without any direct charge, adding that this raises questions over how Indonesia should approach its strategic waterways.
The Malacca Strait, jointly bordered by Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, is a critical maritime corridor linking the Indian and Pacific Oceans and handling a significant share of global trade.
Purbaya said the idea was partly inspired by discussions in other regions, including Iran’s reported plans to introduce charges for vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, another key global energy route.
He suggested that a similar model could potentially generate economic value if coordinated among the three littoral states sharing the Malacca Strait, though he stressed that any move would require regional agreement.
However, the minister acknowledged that such a proposal would not be simple to implement, given the need for coordination with Malaysia and Singapore and the broader implications for international shipping rules.
He also indicated that Indonesia is not pursuing unilateral action, describing the idea as an initial concept that would require further study and discussion before any policy direction is taken.
