Balai Pustaka needs changes

Balai Pustaka needs changes

JAKARTA (JP): The House of Representatives (DPR) yesterday
asked Minister of Education and Culture Wardiman Djojonegoro to
reorganize the state-owned Balai Pustaka publishing company to
improve its efficiency.

"It is very sad to see how things are going at the company,"
said Abdul Choliq Murod of House Commission IX which oversees
educational affairs.

Balai Pustaka, the only state firm managed by the ministry of
education and culture, is reported to have Rp 6 billion (US$2.8
million) in debts due to inefficiency.

Inefficient marketing, distribution and overall management
have caused the company to stack thousands of unsold books worth
billions of rupiahs.

Murod pointed out that the problems occurring in Balai Pustaka
were ironic because children and schools all over the country
were still in need of books and other forms of literature.

House member Paskah Suzetta said that the restructuring of
Balai Pustaka should include personnel, working programs and
capital.

"The government should find a way to restructure the firm
without neglecting the cultural, social and historical aspects of
Balai Pustaka," he said.

Balai Pustaka, established 77 years ago, began as a Dutch-
founded publishing firm for Indonesian literature, printing books
in Javanese, Sundanese, Melayu and Madura dialects.

After Indonesia's independence in 1945, however, its role
began to subside and it has since been continually criticized for
its inability to contribute revenue to the government and too
much dependence on government projects since their main job is to
publish government textbooks.

It has also engaged in cooperation with private publishers and
distributors on a co-partnership basis.(pwn)