National stability under threat: Wahono<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): House Speaker Wahono warns that poor human
\nresources, low productivity, unemployment and foreign
\ninterference may threaten the stability that Indonesia yearns to
\ndevelop.<\/p>\n
Wahono said if not properly addressed, the problems would
\ndisrupt the government's efforts to equalize distribution of the
\ndevelopment cake, maintain growth and promote stability.<\/p>\n
\"Deregulation and bureaucratic reforms...should be pursued to
\nmake the system responsive to the changing times,\" Wahono said
\nwhen opening the current session of the House of Representatives
\n(DPR) Tuesday.<\/p>\n
President Soeharto also presented his annual state-of-the-
\nnation speech at the House, marking yesterday's 49th Independence
\nDay.<\/p>\n
Wahono said most Indonesians' education level, health status
\nand mastery of technology were inadequate to meet the demands for
\nindustrialization.<\/p>\n
Productivity and efficiency in all public institutions are
\ninsufficient. \"All economic, social, political and legal
\ninstitutions needs reformation,\" he added.<\/p>\n
The lack of infrastructure can undermine economic growth and
\nis to blame for the economic disparities in the provinces, he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The government has to work hard to mobilize the Rp 660
\ntrillion (about US$320 billion) it needs to have the economy grow
\nby 6.2 percent as targeted for the current Sixth Five Year Plan
\n(Repelita VI), he said.<\/p>\n
Wahono also warned that unemployment was an explosive issue.
\nIn Repelita VI, 2.5 million jobs have to be created.<\/p>\n
\"In addition to all the challenges, foreign intervention in
\nIndonesia's domestic affairs will intensify,\" he said. \"Foreign
\npressures will be felt in international trade agreements and
\nassistance.\"<\/p>\n
At risk<\/p>\n
Wahono also gave warning that the results of the painstaking
\ndevelopment would be at risk if the widening gulf between the
\nrich and the poor remained unchecked.<\/p>\n
\"It needs serious efforts to fill in the widening economic
\ngap,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The economic gap, if it continues unchecked, would make the
\nrich superior and the poor to harbor social \"jealousy\", a
\nsituation that would put the existing development fruits in
\ndanger, he said.<\/p>\n
The House speaker's remarks were the latest in a spate of
\nwarnings on the notorious unequal distribution of the state
\nwealth over the past week.<\/p>\n
Senior economist Sumitro Djojohadikusumo was the first who
\nraised the alarm last week. Echoing Sumitro's concern was State
\nMinister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie, who blamed the
\nsituation largely on the banks which favor large-scale businesses
\nin issuing credits.<\/p>\n
Occasional violent rioting against Chinese descendants, the
\nminority group which dominates Indonesia's economy, is widely
\nseen as public discontentment of the unequal economic
\ndistribution of state wealth.<\/p>\n
Wahono pointed out that the large number of Indonesians living
\nbelow the poverty line had added to the sensitivity of the
\neconomic gap, an old issue which keeps simmering but is never
\nresolved.<\/p>\n
\"Special attention should be given to rural areas, isolated
\ncommunities and transmigration sites,\" said the retired
\nlieutenant general and former boss of the government-backed
\nGolkar political grouping.<\/p>\n
According to official figures, 27 million of the 185 million
\nIndonesians still live in absolute poverty, mostly in rural
\nareas. (pan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/national-stability-under-threat-wahono-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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