Appeal to use national products

From Kompas

Some time ago, the government made an appeal to government agencies to use Timor automobiles as office cars. As usual, the appeal was interpreted as an "order", so agencies reluctantly bought Timor cars -- resulting in a boost in Timor car sales.

I do not want to delve into the legality of the appeal from a constitutional aspect, or into the feasibility of the Timor car as the national automobile. I would only suggest that such appeals be made for other national products as well.

There should be an appeal to government officials to consume domestic fruit as well as the imported ones, say in a 50/50 proportion. Also an appeal should be made to eat domestic rice instead of imported rice from Thailand and Taiwan, and to buy domestic beef more often than the produce flown in from Australia.

There are many more domestic products which are marginalized due to the presence of imports. If the government seriously wants to be just to all, I think it would not be difficult to issue appeals similar to the one on behalf of the Timor car. It boils down to whether there is the will to do that or not.

The government should not be averse to making new appeals because of discrimination between the interest of big business in the Timor car and the fruit, rice and beef business conducted by insignificant farmers.

ANDREAS

Probolinggo, East Java