Infrastructure summit and RI's future<\/p>\n
Patrick Guntensperger, Jakarta<\/p>\n
There probably has never been a more apt time for a summit
\nconference on Indonesia's infrastructure.<\/p>\n
A major concerted effort to address the shop-worn and
\ninadequate infrastructure that characterizes Indonesia will have
\nbenefits that reach far beyond the people's needs for better
\nsurface transportation and delivery of public utilities and
\nservices. There is no question that the shabby state of
\nIndonesian roads and the generally poor condition of public
\nfacilities needs to be addressed.<\/p>\n
The overall state of disrepair is bad for the country. It is
\nbad because it perpetuates a reputation for acceptance poor
\nstandards, for Indonesia being content with second and third-rate
\nconditions.<\/p>\n
It is also bad because people become accustomed to living
\nwith shoddy, deteriorated infrastructure and a sense of pessimism
\nabout life in this country becomes commonplace. An improvement in
\nthe infrastructure will bring optimism and hope for the country's
\nfuture; something that is badly needed in Indonesia at this time.<\/p>\n
On an economic level, the expenditure of trillions of rupiah
\n(as has been proposed) will be an enormous shot in the arm that
\nwill have far-reaching effects throughout the archipelago.
\nCountries like the United States are comfortably aware that
\nnothing boosts a country's economy like being on a war footing.
\nThat's because the public purse is opened and no expenses are
\nspared to accomplish the country's immediate goals.<\/p>\n
The effect of the unrestrained spending is a rapid circulation
\nof wealth, the creation of new businesses and massive increases
\nin employment. But actual war isn't needed to bring about that
\neconomic renewal. What is needed is any shared goal that requires
\na similar commitment of funds and energy on the part of the
\ngovernment and the people of a country.<\/p>\n
If that national will can be focussed on infrastructure
\nrefurbishing, modernization and expansion, the effect can be
\nsimilar to the economic growth that the US saw as a result of
\nWorld War II, and has tried to repeat with her various adventures
\never since.<\/p>\n
With that amount of money spread around the country, millions
\nof unemployed will be able to find jobs directly related to the
\ninfrastructure work and millions more will find employment in the
\nindustries and businesses that spring up to help them spend their
\nnewly earned money.<\/p>\n
Once those enormous sums of money are in circulation,
\nbusinesses and therefore employment become self-perpetuating. The
\neffect of such an influx of capital is similar to kick-starting a
\nmotorcycle; it takes that sharp input, it may need more than a
\nsingle attempt, but once it catches, the engine takes over.<\/p>\n
Infrastructure work is particularly well suited to being a
\nnational economic kick-start. Because of its very nature, the
\nwork that is done and therefore the economic benefits will be
\ndistributed throughout the country; although the contract will
\nlargely be executed and therefore paid in Jakarta, the wages
\nthemselves will be paid to the workers wherever the work is being
\ndone. And that means money will be spent not only in the nation's
\ncapital but in villages from one end of the archipelago to the
\nother.<\/p>\n
In the wake of the devastation caused by the Christmas
\nTsunami, infrastructure reclamation will have a special urgency
\nin some parts of the country.<\/p>\n
We have a chance here to turn this calamity into an
\nopportunity. President Susilo has already ordered a review and
\nreorganization of the National Coordinating Agency for Relief and
\nRefugees (Bakornas PBP); he has seen problems and has moved to
\naddress them.<\/p>\n
That sends a signal to the world that the old complacency and
\nrefusal to acknowledge internal problems are things of the past.
\nIf we can send similar signals with our transparent, ethical and
\nefficient expenditure of aid money and our own funds allocated to
\ninfrastructure rebuilding, we might well be taking a big step
\ntowards turning Indonesia around.<\/p>\n
If anything comes out Monday and Tuesday's summit on the
\ninfrastructure, let us hope that it is a commitment to spending
\nthose vast sums of money in ways that will show the world that
\nIndonesia has a right to be considered among the mature
\ndemocratic nations of the world and is on her way to economic
\nself-sufficiency. If Indonesia can come out of the devastation
\nwith a renewed sense of purpose and a commitment to the future
\ndevelopment of this country, the heartbreaking losses we have
\nsuffered as a result of the tsunami will be somewhat mitigated.<\/p>\n
The writer, social and political commentator, can be reached
\nat ttpguntensperger@hotmail.com<\/p>",
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