Kadin deeply involved in policy making<\/p>\n
One \"civil society\" organization that does not appear to have
\na problem in participating in the policy-making process is the
\nIndonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) with the
\npresence of several businessmen in the Susilo Cabinet.<\/p>\n
Sofjan Wanandi, a chief Kadin advisor, said during the UNSFIR
\nconference on Wednesday that Kadin had helped prepare the
\neconomic policies of the present government, noting that \"80
\npercent of Kadin's Roadmap had been adopted by the government.\"<\/p>\n
The Kadin Roadmap, detailing ways to reinvigorate the economy,
\nwas the result of studies jointly conducted by Kadin and
\nrepresentatives of foreign chambers of commerce in Indonesia.
\nKadin has also been involved in the drafting of several bills,
\nincluding the latest on tax reform currently being debated in the
\nHouse.<\/p>\n
Sofjan defended the active participation of the group saying
\nthat the objective was to help the government restore business
\nconfidence and thus bring back investors to Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Recognizing the concerns of possible conflicts of interest of
\nthe businessmen in the Cabinet, Sofjan said the rules today are
\nmuch clearer and more transparent than during the Soeharto years,
\nand that the media would be quick to bring attention to unsavory
\npractices.<\/p>\n
Criticisms of possible conflicts of interest have been leveled
\nagainst Vice President Jusuf Kalla, a businessman-cum-politician
\nof the dominant Golkar party, chief economics minister Aburizal
\nBakrie, formerly of the Bakrie Group, and Sugiharto, the state
\nminister for state enterprises. With President Susilo Bambang
\nYudhoyono considering some personnel changes within his Cabinet,
\ncritics have been saying he should get rid of the businessmen.<\/p>\n
Sofjan asserted that the businessmen in the Cabinet should be
\ngiven more than a year to prove themselves, saying that it would
\nbe unfair to judge them solely after one year in office.<\/p>\n
The past year, he said, had been a time for the ministers to
\nadjust to the reality of government bureaucracy, so that if they
\nhad not performed up to expectations, it was understandable.<\/p>\n
\"But there will be no more excuses in 2006. If they don't
\nperform, they'd better step down,\" he said. -- Endy M. Bayuni<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/kadin-deeply-involved-in-policy-making-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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