Basic problems untouched

After a long and uncertain wait, the deregulation measures that are to be the vanguard of economic efficiency and improvement have been announced, even though the basic problems that are encumbering the Indonesian economy have been left untouched.

In short, the present deregulation measures do not reflect the government's intent to curb the monopolies and oligopolies which have so far hampered the growth of the Indonesian economy and thereby the attainment of the goals delineated in our Development Trilogy. This creates the impression that the aims specified in our Broad Outline of State Policy (GHBN) are mere rhetoric and that the solutions offered do not touch on the basic problems that beset our national economy.

Moreover, our efforts to attain efficiency cannot be separated from the eradication of corruption and collusion. Minister of Transmigration Siswono Yudohusodo said as long as there is no regulation that requires officials to report their personal wealth before they assume their posts and afterward, all efforts to achieve efficiency through the eradication of corruption will be in vain. This means that deregulation efforts should be all- embracing and on target.

-- Merdeka, Jakarta