Appeal to use national products

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