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