Soeharto warns on power abuse<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto is warning provincial
\nauthorities not to abuse the stronger power and greater autonomy
\ngiven to them.<\/p>\n
In a written message presented at the meetings for the
\ntransfer of lists of development projects to provincial
\nadministrations, the President said that the stronger power
\nshould not be used to create bureaucratic problems that may
\nhamper the country's development efforts.<\/p>\n
Soeharto's message was read out by the ministers who
\ndelivered the lists to governors in ceremonies in the capitals of
\nthe country's 27 provinces.<\/p>\n
For example, Minister of Education and Culture Wardiman
\nDjojonegoro delivered the list of development projects for
\nJakarta, Minister of Defense and Security Affairs Edi Sudradjat
\npassed on those for East Timor, Minister of Health Sujudi for
\nWest Java, State Minister for Agrarian Affairs Soni Harsono for
\nCentral Java, State Minister for Population Affairs Haryono
\nSuyono for East Java, State Minister for Social Affairs Endang
\nKusuma Inten Suweno for Jambi, Minister\/State Secretary Moerdiono
\nfor Bali and Minister of Finance Mar'ie Muhammad presented the
\npapers for South Sulawesi.<\/p>\n
The development projects are expected to be constructed within
\nthe 1994-1995 fiscal year beginning on April 1. The lists also
\ncontain the amounts of funds allocated for the development
\nprojects in the provinces.<\/p>\n
Motivation<\/p>\n
The President said the stronger power should enable the
\nprovincial authorities to create breakthroughs in motivating
\ndevelopment efforts, which are often impeded by bureaucratic
\nproblems.<\/p>\n
\"The more autonomy given to the local administrations should
\nnot, instead, be used to create new problems through the
\nintroduction of new bureaucratic procedures,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Soeharto said that the power given to local administrations to
\ncollect all receipts from property taxes is expected to further
\nstrengthen their financial capability to develop their provinces
\nand regencies.<\/p>\n
Beginning this fiscal year, the first year of the Sixth Five
\nYear Development Plan (Repelita VI), local administrations are
\nallowed to use all the property tax collected in their provinces.
\nPreviously, around 10 percent of the property tax had to be sent
\nto the central government.<\/p>\n
\"The collection of the land and building taxes should be
\nintensified to increase the local administrations' financial
\nsources,\" the President said.<\/p>\n
However, he warned that the intensified measures for
\ncollecting property taxes should not increase the burden on the
\npublic.<\/p>\n
The government's 1994-1995 budget rose by 11.2 percent to Rp
\n69.74 trillion (US$33.22 billion) both for revenues and spending
\nfrom Rp 62.32 billion in the 1993-1994 fiscal year. Around Rp
\n42.35 trillion ($20.16 billion) of the total budget will be used
\nfor routine spending, including subsidies of Rp 7.09 trillion
\n($3.4 billion) for provinces, and the remaining Rp 27.39 trillion
\nfor development projects.<\/p>\n
The central government's funds for development projects are
\nintegrated into the budgets of provincial administrations.<\/p>\n
Long-term plan<\/p>\n
The President said in his message that the country's second
\n25-year development plan, effected as of April 1, is part of the
\ngovernment's sustainable development program introduced over 25
\nyears ago.<\/p>\n
\"The second 25-year development plan is the continuation and
\nthe expansion of the first 25-year development plan,\" he said.
\n\"But we will not hesitate to introduce reform in efforts to
\ncorrect the development mistakes of the past.\"<\/p>\n
Speaking on the political aspects of the situation in the
\ncountry, Soeharto said the present conditions are very
\nencouraging and that the democratization process continues with
\npolitical institutions becoming more mature.<\/p>\n
\"The political stability should be maintained and the
\ndemocratization process should be further encouraged,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The President said Indonesia was successful in building up its
\neconomy during the first 25-year development plan period, but
\nadded that the challenge will be tougher in the coming years.<\/p>\n
\"We are not only facing tougher competition in winning export
\nmarkets, but also in obtaining financial sources overseas,\" he
\nsaid, adding that economic recession and the scarcity of sources
\nof investment worldwide would continue impeding the country's
\neconomy. (hen)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/soeharto-warns-on-power-abuse-1447899208",
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