LISTEN TO THE VOICE OF NATIONAL BUSINESS PEOPLE

Admittedly, the impressive economic achievement of the past few years was the fruits of hard work of the businesspeople. By their endeavors investment and domestic consumption were still energetic and zealous to support economic development.

               

A magnetic Indonesia market not only attracted local investors but also foreign investors. At least there were three Asian states which aggressively invest their capital in Indonesia, i.e. Chinese, Japan and South Korea. They saw Indonesia’s big market as the main magnet.

               

In view of the massive investment made by national and foreign investors, the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce recommended the Government to immediately issue Government’s Regulation as substitute to Law [Perpu] or issues new law soonest.

               

The objective was that businesspeople had sound legal assurance. KADIN saw that Indonesia’s political atmosphere was no guarantee to private investment. The investment made by the private sector was high and needed a long time for return on investment so sound and firm legal protection was indispensable.

               

There were five PERPU or laws which were expected to be put in effect. Firstly, on marine based connectivity program which would connect one island with another to enhance economic efficiency.

               

Secondly, the development of primary mining industry [copper, aluminum, nickel, and iron, tin, gold] and petro-chemical industry needed to be spurred on in their development. Because national downstream industry was not healthy, they were highly reliant on imported raw material.

               

Thirdly, investment in mining/petrochemicals which were already underway must be protected and be given the opportunity to increase production. They should even be given the incentive to collaborate with the private sector and regional business circle. Investors believed that with strong legal protection, investment would increase in the regions especially outside Java, in the least developed province which were the center of natural resources it would be necessary to set up joint marketing bodies for mining commodities.

               

Fourthly, matters related to the development of acceleration of trade in the border zones. The objective was to prevent economic disparity of the regions so it was necessary to authorize the regions to make regulations for boundary zones. The way it had been ministrial bureaucracy was very complicated. By authority of the The Board of National Boundary Management [BPNP] economic growth in the bioder zones could be accelerated.

               

Fifthly, BULOG needed to be given strong legal authority to manage distribution of rice, corn, soy, garlics, beef, etc. As there was no balance between supply and demand those commodities tend to create annual problem in turn, so BULOG’s interference might come in handy. However BULOG needed to be given strong legal authority.

               

The above mentioned five demands deserved positive response from the Government. As businessmen’s partner. It was only very natural for the Government to try to meet the businesspeople’s demand.

               

Apart from the above five aspirations of businesspeople, in fact the most fundamental thing to be established by the Government was law and order and political stability. As know, lately arms continued to happen. Meanwhile political tension also heightened toward Presidential and legislative election next year.

               

Another example was the riot in Palopo, South Sulawesi. A mob in this town ran amock and burned some buildings. The trigger was outcome of direct election of local Governor. The lost party claimed they were being cheated and took to anarchy.

               

Another case was a group of masked and armed men attacking a jailhouse in Cebongan Sleman killing four detainees who previously killed a soldier. The scene of attack by a gang of masked men was like an action movie and was talk of town. Many people condemned the attack but there were also those who supported because the shot detained were reckoned to be crooks.

               

It awakened Man’s conscience that all the violence in the past one month shook the sense of security among the public. The law was regarded as non-existent and powerless against disorder that threatened the public. The act of a group of masked people who cruelly executed four detainees at the Cebongan Jailhouse, Sleman, Yogyakarta was one of the expression of distrust in law or law enforcers.

               

The act of taking the law in one’s own hands was becoming a trend in all levels of society; the law in this country had lost its power and dignity.

               

Before the unrest, this country was also rocked by the case of leaking of the letter of command to investigate [spridik] of the Hambalang corruption case. One of the Commission Chairman of the Antigraft Board [KPK] was reported as being involved in the leaking which mentioned Anas Urbaningrum as suspect. Uproar in internal KPK bursted out. Finally the Committee of Ethics stated there were two persons among KPK Board of Leaders who were declared as quilty and were sanctioned by way of reprimanding verbally as well as in writing to said persons.

               

On the political side, other cases which were public spotlight were President SBY who was elected as Chairman of the Democrat Party [PD] by unanimous decision at the party’s extraordinary congress. SBY was elected as Chairman flanked by two active ministers to act as Daily Executive. SBY’s son Edhie Baskoro Yudhoyono [Ibas] was entrusted as Secretary General.

               

SBY was accused as trying to build political dynasty. Double role which was once criticized by SBY was now exercised by himself. Criticism bursted out again because leaders of this country were accused as not being exemplary in managing in the nation. The cases stormed alternately covering up previous scandalous cases like the Bank Century and Hambalang which were virus on the nation.

               

All the occurrences seemed to wipe out all the future plans of the nation to progress ahead. All the problems of the nation seemed to be ignored and neglected by the cases.

               

Public perceptions seemed reasonable because the nation tend to easily forget a case when then another case emerged to overshadow it. The public tend to easily forget big tragic cases when they were presented with other cases which were probably fabricated or blow up. Under such circumstances the guilties would clap their hands and celebrate.

               

This year 2013 and 2014 are political years, a year full of political interest rather than national interest. The people were called for to be more cautious in responding to any occurrence that happened. The public must be on the alert, not to be trapped in any group’s ambitious moves but stick to efforts of serving the nation instead.

               

In the domain of law, the judge’s verdicts which were often against the public’s sense of justice influenced greatly to the dignity of law enforcers. The cases of judges, investigators and law enforcers who were caught red handed receiving bribery were probably only the top of iceberg.

               

Cynism was inevitable among the public, who believed that the judges being arrested for receiving bribery were just having their bad day. Bribery practices for winning any case was nothing new in the process of law enforcement. Whoever possessed power and money, they could control the law. At least that was the public perception. The law was only sharp downward [the marginal’s and poor people] but blunt upward [the authorities and capitalism].

               

The public, who time after time were entertained with a play of law enforcement which was full of falsehood, took their own conclusion that they no longer trust law enforcement process in this country. People’s violence against criminals or suspected criminal was a way of reaching to justice,.

               

Even in the Regency of Simalungun, North Sumatra, a police officer, when he raided illegal gambling, died tragically after being attacked by a mob who shouted “Thieve!” at him. This hurts people’s sense of justice and was most painful. However, there was no short of empathy from the Government’s side and the occurrence was regarded as commonplace.

               

All news reporting on economy, security, politics and law were easily accessible by foreign investors abroad. When they realized how turbulent the occurrences were, it was not impossible that the investors changed their minds about investing in Indonesia.

               

Foreign investors who invested their capital since a long time ago might walk out and go to another country. The disheartening fact was that even local investors might be reluctant to expand their business in Indonesia and start to look for another location in another country where life was safer, more peaceful and more prospective. So advise for the Government was listen to the voice of business people and respond to them with sound action instead of just to retort.(SS)      

Business News - April 10,2013