Govt continues to get criticized over performance<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The first 100 days of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's
\nadministration have passed. But criticism of his government
\ncontinues unabated, with most considering that he had so far
\nfailed to improve the country's investment and business climate.<\/p>\n
\"The government has put the direction of its economic policy
\ninto its 100-day program and National Medium-term Development
\nPlan (RPJMN). But can the program and the plan accomplish the
\nvision and mission of the President and Vice President and solve
\nthe people's economic problems?\" asked Aviliani of Tim Indonesia
\nBangkit (Indonesia Awakens Team) in a discussion on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
She said that government programs and policy during the first
\n100 days did not demonstrate any of the changes promised by the
\nstate leaders during their election campaign.<\/p>\n
Another speaker at the discussion, Fadhil Hasan, said the 100-
\nday program was only a compilation of routine programs proposed
\nby ministries and other government institutions.<\/p>\n
In its report, the team said that during the first 100 days
\nthe government should have established a stronger base for an
\nimprovement in tax collection, a reduction in debt burdens, and a
\ncontraction in spending, as mentioned in the President's vision
\nstatement.<\/p>\n
Some critics also highlighted the government's failure to
\nsettle a number of high-profile disputes with foreign investors
\nsuch as Mexican cement giant Cemex SA's case against state-owned
\nPT Semen Gresik, the Karaha Bodas Company (KBC) case, and a row
\nbetween state firm Pertamina and ExxonMobil over the Cepu gas and
\noil field.<\/p>\n
Fixing these matters would automatically improve the nation's
\ninvestment climate.<\/p>\n
Another team member, Binny Buchori, told the discussion that
\nthe government was also weak in establishing strategies in
\ndevelopment planning.<\/p>\n
\"The development plan, for example, does not mention any plan
\non the privatization of state enterprises, but it presumes a
\nrevenue worth of between 0.1 and 0.2 percent of Gross Domestic
\nProduct (GDP) from privatization,\" she said.<\/p>\n
The RPJMN also indicated that the government, in financing
\ndevelopment projects, would not try to pan more revenue from
\ndomestic sources other than taxation, such as profits from state
\nenterprises, but it prioritized revenue from foreign loans, she
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
She said the government had projected revenue of about 0.7 to
\n1.2 percent of GDP from foreign loans.<\/p>\n
Efficiency in state enterprises could actually help increase
\nnon-tax domestic revenue, she added. (004)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-continues-to-get-criticized-over-performance-1447893297",
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