An ongoing crisis

An ongoing crisis

The situation we are facing at present is quite a delicate
one. The present crisis -- which is probably the first of its
magnitude ever to have occurred under the New Order -- represents
a point (in our existence) where a rethinking of our policies is
in order. The situation which we are in at present is truly
difficult and complex. Our monetary system is in turmoil, the
inflation rate is rising, liquidity is tight, unemployment is
increasing and the specter of a growing deficit is hanging over
our balance of payments.

Oddly enough, even under such circumstances, we have not seen
any sign of an overall consolidation, particularly at the
government level. The public has still not seen any signs of
better coordination among government agencies. People are asking
themselves, for example, what role the Coordinating Minister for
Economy and Finance Saleh Afiff is assuming in our current
efforts to overcome the ongoing crisis. And for what reason did
Minister of Manpower Abdul Latief intervene in credits extension
procedures using Jamsostek funds? Why was it necessary to pay any
"grease money" to have a draft law discussed?

We are continuously being confronted with questions that are
difficult to answer. The problem we are at present facing is not
merely one of economics, it is also one of politics, or at the
very least economic policy. After all, isn't it true that
spending money for the discussion of a law constitutes a blow at
the very foundations of our democracy? Doesn't this make it
altogether possible that the interests of lobbying groups with
money to spend will be favored over those of the voting public?

Thus it seems that many problems continue to undermine the
public's interests. We are still faced with the problem of
inadequate public accountability in matters of public policy
management, particularly in the sphere of the economy. Initially,
perhaps, this was the price we had to pay in order to get our
priorities accomplished. That price, however, becomes too high
when it causes the bigger aspects, such as for instance public
trust, ethics and morality, to be neglected.

-- Bisnis Indonesia, Jakarta