Indonesia told to learn from Indian elections<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian government should learn from last
\nweek's dramatic defeat of India's Congress (I) party, growing
\neconomic disparities in China and discord within Malaysia's
\nruling UMNO party, a scholar said Saturday.<\/p>\n
Dorojatun Kuntjoro-Jakti, a well-known economist from the
\nUniversity of Indonesia, said the three cases are good examples
\nof the side effects to development that are also happening in
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
\"I'm not saying that Indonesia will experience exactly the
\nsame problems only that we have to be ready for them,\" said
\nDorojatun, dean of the university's school of economics.<\/p>\n
From last week's elections in India you can see that even a
\ncentury-old party that has been dominant since 1947 can be
\ndefeated. It should make the government and the ruling Golkar
\nparty think hard, said the professor.<\/p>\n
\"Indonesia's rapid development is truly a miraculous
\nphenomenon. But we cannot ignore the fact that it has also caused
\neconomic disparities,\" explained the Berkeley trained scholar.<\/p>\n
He warned that if Indonesia does not do enough to develop its
\neastern provinces, such as Irian Jaya, Maluku and East Timor,
\neconomic disparities will linger on.<\/p>\n
In China, he said economic disparities have hampered its
\ndevelopment efforts.<\/p>\n
\"Now, it is up to us whether to take it as a lesson or not,\"
\ncommented Dorojatun. \"I remind you that we cannot be sovereign,
\nunited and prosperous if we do not uphold fairness in development
\npolicies.\"<\/p>\n
Dorojatun yesterday addressed a seminar held in connection
\nwith the university's writing contest on economics in Indonesia.
\nHeld by the school's student senate, the contest offers one of
\nthe university's most prestigious awards.<\/p>\n
In the discussion Dorojatun also stressed that the world is
\nentering the free trade era. \"It's inevitable. The developments
\nin technology have made the world borderless and has supported
\nfree trade,\" said Dorojatun.<\/p>\n
\"We cannot escape from this era because of two reasons: the
\nprogress of technology and the historical fact that free trade
\nhas been painstakingly planned,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Dorojatun urged the government to abandon its centralistic
\npolicy making and give more autonomy to local governments in the
\nregions.<\/p>\n
On the same discussion, economist Jan Hoesada stressed that
\n1997 will usher in Indonesia's moment of truth in facing the free
\ntrade era.<\/p>\n
\"The moment of truth is in 1997. If we cannot improve our
\ncompetitiveness, we will be bashed by free trade,\" said Hoesada,
\nwho is a prominent accountant and market strategist.<\/p>\n
\"The most important thing today is obtaining a competitive
\nadvantage,\" Hoesada added. (06)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesia-told-to-learn-from-indian-elections-1447893297",
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