Ambivalent political attitude prevails in society
Ambivalent political attitude prevails in society
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of National Development
Planning/Chairman of the National Planning Board Ginandjar
Kartasasmita says the public has an equivocal attitude toward the
government's development policy.
People demand stability but at the same time they dislike the
government's firm actions towards maintaining it, he said here on
Wednesday night.
"Many people want stability but are anti-establishment.
Society wants peace and security but criticizes firm action to
protect it," he said.
Ginandjar said one of the major challenges to the nation is to
ensure that the need for political change follows the channels of
political development, so it does not impede progress.
He said that in this current age of globalized information
society is easily influenced by the various alternatives to the
system that have been adopted.
He admitted that "no one among us claims that our political
system is perfect" but said that necessary political change must
not hamper the overall progress of national development.
Ginandjar made the remarks addressing a gala dinner
celebrating the silver anniversary of the Suara Karya daily
newspaper.
He said that foreign media exposure and other global
developments have produced a more critical society.
"Firm action is often interpreted as an act of oppression,"
Ginandjar complained.
"This shows that people are more critical, increasingly
assertive of their rights, and refuse to be treated badly," he
added.
Another challenge awaiting the nation is cultural change, he
noted.
According to Ginandjar such a transformation is unavoidable as
Indonesia's agricultural society evolves into an industrial one.
"The evolution of values will create collisions and tremors,"
he predicts.
He noted that nations have disintegrated because of cultural
antagonisms.
"I think none of us believe we shall head in that direction.
But mere belief is not enough," Ginandjar said, calling for
efforts to settle cultural antagonism.
Another social challenge which the country must deal with is
the question of socio-economic disparity.
"The problem of disparity, if not dealt with quickly and
effectively, has the potential to become even larger with the
advent of deregulation," Ginandjar said.
He said that in a free-market system, competition is wider and
opportunities greater, but weaker players may not be able to keep
up.
This creates a condition where productive assets can be
increasingly concentrated within a select group or region.
It is for this very reason, Ginandjar explained, that the
government indulges in "selective intervention" to help out those
who have not reached their optimum competitive potential, while
at the same time still adhering to the principals of a global
open market.
He justified this policy as a means of reducing potential
elements which agitate instability.
"Issues of economic disparity can quickly become political
issues in the guise of religion, race or culture," he said. (mds)