Corruption stems from Western economic values<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Western economic values, which stress the
\nmaximizing of profit at all costs, are to blame for the rampant
\ncorruption in Indonesia, noted economist Emil Salim said
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
Many economic players, including conglomerates, think nothing
\nof corruption and collusion with officials because they are
\ndriven by Western values, he said.<\/p>\n
\"Corruption is (the) cost (of economic activities)...So, why
\nnot?\" said Emil, who is former minister of environment and a
\nprofessor of economics at the University of Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Speaking at a national symposium on Islam's contribution to
\npublic morality and spirituality, Emil spoke at length of the
\ndifference between the values adhered to by economic actors and
\nthose upheld by the Indonesian community in general.<\/p>\n
\"If economic actors who hold Western economic values are told
\nto play a role in the market of the Indonesian community, it is
\nunderstandable if adverse social impacts later emerge,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Emil also spoke of the sense of \"alienation\" that big
\nbusinesses experience due to the difference in values. \"They feel
\nthat they behave properly and in accordance with those Western
\nvalues, but the Indonesian community thinks they have deviated
\nfrom social norms,\" he said.<\/p>\n
This could explain why the community is not comfortable with
\nthe conglomerates, he added.<\/p>\n
\"The logic could also be used to explain why, for many
\neconomic actors, corruption and collusion with officials are the
\nnorms in the pursuit of business goals..(and why) the community
\nis becoming concerned about it,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The anomaly should be corrected, and society should develop an
\nalternative system of values. \"This is where Islam can contribute
\nto the development of that value system,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The two-day symposium is being held as part of the ongoing
\nsecond Istiqlal Festival of Islamic Arts and Culture. A series of
\npapers are being discussed in the symposium. Today, it will
\nfeature Minister of Finance Mar'ie Muhammad and Malaysian Deputy
\nPrime Minister Dato' Anwar Ibrahim as keynote speakers.<\/p>\n
Emil said that the Western economic system rests on the
\nfollowing values: an \"anthropocentrist\" view of life, which
\nstresses self-interest; an emphasis on the pursuit of \"more\" of
\neverything; and intolerance of anything which is \"less\" in
\nnature, manifesting itself in a drive to \"maximize profit.\"<\/p>\n
The system is based on competition and the desire for instant
\ngratification, he said, citing the emphasis on short-term
\neconomic goals as evidence.<\/p>\n
\"The venue and mechanism which enables those principles to
\ngrow is: market,\" he said. \"It's in the market that demand and
\nsupply meet and, if it's liberated, it functions very
\nefficiently.\"<\/p>\n
The free market system, however, has many weaknesses,
\nincluding the fact that it provides goods and services without
\nmoral considerations, he said. Thus, the market accommodates both
\nillegal drugs and medicines, and sexual relationships are bought
\nand sold like any other service, he said.<\/p>\n
\"The free market does not side with either the weak or the
\nstrong...Those who come forward to make use of the free market
\nmechanism are generally the strong,\" he said. \"Whatever impact is
\nfelt by the weak, the system does not care.\"<\/p>\n
He said the values of Islam are the exact opposite of the
\nvalues on which Western economics rest. The religion discourages
\nanthropocentrism and encourages a life principle which places God
\nin the center.<\/p>\n
Islam discourages greed and teaches its believers not to
\nalways seek for \"more\", he said. Instead, Moslems are taught to
\nstrive for what is \"adequate\" and to balance the satisfaction of
\nmaterial and spiritual needs.<\/p>\n
\"Seen from a macro-economic point of view, Islam doesn't
\npursue the maximization of profit, but a balance of both
\nspiritual and material development,\" he said. \"From the macro-
\neconomic point of view, ...(Islam does not teach the pursuit of)
\nmere rapid economic growth, but will shape the Indonesian
\ncommunity and people, who are spiritually and materially whole.\"<\/p>\n
Other speakers at the symposium yesterday included social and
\npolitical observers Usman Pelly and Fachry Ali, who focused their
\nattention on the contribution of Islam to the development of the
\nwork ethos of people in Sumatra. (swe)<\/p>",
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