VP warns against regional egoism<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri warned
\nlocal administrations on Saturday on the dangers of creeping
\nregional egoism, which could jeopardize ties with the central
\ngovernment and undermine national unity.<\/p>\n
During her opening address at the Batam Expo 2001 in Batam,
\nRiau, on Saturday, Megawati said the regional autonomy concept
\nwould be damaged if regional administrations attempted to usurp
\nlocal financial sources for the sake of boosting their coffers.<\/p>\n
She said hasty implementation of autonomy without a matured
\nconcept and necessary regulations would only raise new problems.<\/p>\n
\"Regions, especially those rich in resources, should not think
\nof themselves, and local officials should not use their authority
\nto engage in new corrupt and collusive practices,\" she said as
\nquoted by Antara.<\/p>\n
Megawati said that regional autonomy was aimed at improving
\ngovernment services to the public, empowering the people,
\nespecially low- and middle-class entrepreneurs and promoting
\ndemocracy.<\/p>\n
\"Of course, regions must be creative in developing their
\npotential and using all opportunities to improve the people's
\nsocial welfare but in this case, local administrations must
\nfunction as facilitators,\" she said.<\/p>\n
She pointed out that less-developed regions should not depend
\non the available funds but must be creative in creating financial
\nsources for development programs.<\/p>\n
The key problem was not the lack of necessary regulations to
\nenforce laws on regional autonomy and fiscal balance, but the
\nabsence of a strong commitment among our officials to create good
\nand clean governance, she said.<\/p>\n
The Vice President admitted that small-scale entrepreneurs
\nwere having difficulties in developing their businesses due to
\nthe prolonged economic crisis and political instability.<\/p>\n
She said they must maintain vigilance to survive the
\nmultidimensional crisis.<\/p>\n
Megawati said the present crisis also indicated a weak
\nnational resilience, especially in political, economic and
\nsecurity fields.<\/p>\n
\"We are witnessing social disparity among the people, regions
\nand various sectors. A part of the people can survive the
\neconomic hardship, several sectors can develop and there are
\nregions which are rich on natural resources,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Also attending the ceremony were Minister of Industry and
\nTrade Luhut B. Pandjaitan, State Minister of Cooperatives and
\nSmall and Medium Enterprises Zarkasih Nur, and a number of local
\nand foreign investors.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, in a meeting of Sumatran governors in Batam on
\nFriday, Minister of Home Affairs and Regional Autonomy Surjadi
\nSudirdja proposed a proportional income distribution among
\nregions in a province to avoid disparity among them.<\/p>\n
\"To reach a fair fiscal balance, regencies in a province could
\npool their annual income and share it proportionally. Under such
\na concession, least-developed regencies could share more,\" he
\nsaid in the meeting, which was held to familiarize the autonomy
\nlaws and regulations. (rms)<\/p>",
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