Gold collection<\/p>\n
From Merdeka<\/p>\n
Considering the latest economic developments in the country, I
\nadmire the donation of two kilograms of gold by 200 ulemas to the
\ngovernment, especially since it made reverberations nationwide
\neven though it was from a small group. This symbolic gesture,
\nhowever, should not be sought for from common people, either at
\nmass gatherings or at small Koran reading groups, because it
\nwould create an adverse impact.<\/p>\n
The main reason is that most of our fellow Moslems are still
\npoor, unlike Koreans whose per capita income is already very
\nhigh. Despite their economic weakness, Indonesians are quite
\nsensitive. If their kyai (ulema) touches on the need to sacrifice
\nin his sermon, they would be easily touched and forget that they
\nare poor. They would be ready to part with their gold, and even
\ntheir houses, if they were called upon to make such a sacrifice
\nfor the sake of the country. However, this would pose some
\ndangers, wouldn't it? We do not want to see a misplaced
\nmanifestation of concern and solidarity.<\/p>\n
We need to think clearly about the present crisis. As most
\nexperts have said, the crisis was triggered mainly by our
\nbusiness tycoons' excessive business expansion with, as Faisal
\nBasri has put it, large offshore loans as the consequence. These
\nbusiness activities have resulted in kebablasan (going needlessly
\ntoo far) in the words of Pak Harto (or keblinger meaning \"wishful
\nthinking\" according to Bung Karno, if he were still alive).<\/p>\n
These offshore loans amount to US$65 billion. As a result,
\nwhen some of the loans to the amount of some $9.6 billion came
\ndue, the value of the rupiah plummeted. The situation has become
\nworse with the emergence of a strange school of thought called
\nthe \"new nationalism\", which appeared earlier and is rapidly
\ngaining followers. The result has been capital flight.<\/p>\n
Pak Probo has estimated that this capital flight plus funds
\nparked overseas (a practice started since the second Five-Year
\nDevelopment Plan of 1974\/1979), amount to $80 billion. With this
\nin mind, we must say that the management of the crisis must also
\nbe monetary in nature and must start from this point.<\/p>\n
The funds piled up abroad must be repatriated, private loans
\nshould be settled by private circles themselves and the
\nbureaucracy should be made more efficient to prevent another form
\nof kebablasan. Common people will certainly have to show their
\nsolidarity with these businessmen, but the latter must also feel
\nthe sting of the crisis. Many experts cannot guarantee that the
\nIMF funds will put things right, let alone the dollars collected
\nfrom the \"Love Rupiah\" campaign or the gold donated to the
\ngovernment.<\/p>\n
It would be a good idea to donate gold or other items to the
\npoor people affected by the crisis, including people who have
\nlost their jobs because of it. If it was only a matter of gold,
\nthe government, in fact, could easily mine gold from Irian Jaya
\nand Kalimantan and sell it to settle all the problems (just
\nregard it as alms to the poor).<\/p>\n
I fully agree with the idea that a \"national prayer\" or
\nistighotsah be held again with all Moslems participating. On such
\nan occasion, the participants could be reminded that the crisis
\ncould be brief or last a long time. So they simply have to keep
\ntheir own money and gold for their own use later should hard
\ntimes persist. Just like running in a marathon race, we must
\nconserve our energy in order to keep up our stamina for the long
\nroad.<\/p>\n
KUNCORO<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/gold-collection-1447899208", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }