Focus on people's prosperity<\/p>\n
From Rakyat Merdeka<\/p>\n
Although this country has been independent for more than half
\na century, it is still endlessly entangled by various
\ndifficulties, including among others, the foreign debt amounting
\nto US$ 140 billion.<\/p>\n
Every year part of the state budget, Rp 60 trillion, is
\nallocated for installments of foreign debt repayment. If the
\nannual installments are projected at Rp 60 trillion (at the
\naverage exchange rate of Rp 9,000 per dollar), how many years
\nwill it take to pay up? To make things worse, every year the
\ngovernment seeks new foreign debt, plus huge amounts of interest
\non bonds must be paid. This is not forgetting that, due to the
\nincompetence of officials of the state electricity company (PLN),
\nthe government has to meet a $ 260 million claim every year by
\nforeign investors.<\/p>\n
To overcome the national economic problems, previous
\ngovernments took the easy way out, further burdening the people,
\nwho had been living from hand-to-mouth in continuous suffering.
\nThis finally resulted in a crisis of catastrophic proportions.<\/p>\n
The traditional policy of hiking rates, such as for
\nelectricity, telephone services, water and fuel should be
\ndiscontinued, as it is still possible to review them. At least,
\nsuch increases, except for income tax, should be minimized.<\/p>\n
The current Cabinet, the Kabinet Gotong Royong (mutual help
\nCabinet), must exert its best efforts to retrieve the huge
\namounts held by the conglomerates, that have earned them in
\ndishonorable ways. Such ill-gotten funds and property should be
\nconfiscated and the relevant persons be brought to justice and
\nnever allowed out of the country.<\/p>\n
Then there is the problem of BLBI (Bank Indonesia Liquidity
\nLoans), initially announced as Rp 650 trillion and later, after
\nbeing audited, revised to Rp 165 trillion. The finance minister
\nshould clarify the drastic decrease to alleviate the burden on
\nthe people.<\/p>\n
The ministers of the Cabinet should put the people's interests
\nas the number one priority as, according to the Constitution, the
\npeople should be made prosperous: therefore the government should
\nstop making new loans.<\/p>\n
Foreign loans should be discontinued for a certain period of
\ntime and the country should take a rest by postponing
\ninstallments, including the payment of interest. Taking a rest
\ndoes not mean the country will dishonor the loans.<\/p>\n
This suggestion is in line with the policy of the President
\nand Vice President that foreign loans should gradually be
\neradicated.<\/p>\n
Projects of monumental size or for the sake of mere prestige
\nshould be deleted, except those with an export orientation, so
\nthat the state budget is not repeatedly revised.<\/p>\n
By implementing the above the leadership quality of the new
\ngovernment will be appreciated by the people.<\/p>\n
To creditors and admirers of Bung Karno (late president
\nSukarno) with large funds, I appeal for your participation in
\nsolving the country's problems, especially the payment of foreign
\nloans, the creation of new jobs and the improvement of the
\npeople's morality.<\/p>\n
H. MARSOESI<\/p>\n
Surabaya<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/focus-on-peoples-prosperity-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }