Revision plan on foundations law hailed<\/p>\n
A'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Large social organizations supported the government's plan to
\nrevise the controversial law on groups and foundations, saying
\nthat the law was too \"restrictive.\"<\/p>\n
The Muhammadiyah and Atma Jaya Foundations said that they
\nneeded certain flexibility in carrying out their social and
\nhumanitarian tasks.<\/p>\n
Muhammadiyah is the second largest Muslim organization in the
\ncountry, claiming to have 30 million members. Muhammadiyah has
\nmore than 300 foundations throughout Indonesia, which operate in
\nthe fields of education, religion and health.<\/p>\n
The Atma Jaya Foundation is a Jakarta-based Catholic
\nfoundation with a staff of 1,300. And like Muhammadiyah, it runs
\nseveral foundations in the area of education, religion and
\nhealth.<\/p>\n
Haedar Nashir, executive secretary of the Muhammadiyah Central
\nBoard, described the new law (takes effect on Aug. 6) as giving
\ntoo much room for the government to intervene into the affairs of
\nfoundations.<\/p>\n
\"We are afraid that the law is turning the clock back to the
\nNew Order period,\" he told The Jakarta Post, referring to the era
\nof the previous authoritarian president Soeharto regime.<\/p>\n
Critics also said that the law on foundations was a serious
\nobstacle to the development of other foundations with a true
\nsocial mission.<\/p>\n
\"There is too much intervention from the government, which
\nmakes foundations less flexible,\" said R. Djokopranoto, chairman
\nof the Atma Jaya Foundation.<\/p>\n
One of the most heavily criticized parts of the law was an
\narticle stipulating that managers of foundations could face
\ncriminal charges if they caused financial losses to the
\nfoundation.<\/p>\n
\"The executives are barred from receiving a salary by the law,
\nbut in contrast they bear more responsibilities according to the
\nlaw.<\/p>\n
I am afraid, nobody will be willing to serve as executives,
\neven including the social ones,\" Djokopranoto said.<\/p>\n
Another disputed point is the requirement for foundations to
\nobtain licenses from the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights
\nbefore going into operation.<\/p>\n
Djokopranoto feared that it would not be an easy process to
\nobtain the necessary license due to heavy bureaucracy in the
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
\"There's no assurance that the registration process could
\nproceed smoothly,\" said Djokopranoto, who feared that the
\nregistration process would be tarnished by bureaucratic
\ncorruption and extortion.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/revision-plan-on-foundations-law-hailed-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}