Business interests may eclipse nationalism: Edi
Business interests may eclipse nationalism: Edi
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Defense and Security Edi Sudradjat
warns the nation against the possibility that nationalism may
become eclipsed by business interests.
"With the growing importance of international relations,
people might think that what's important now is not national
unity and integrity, but international solidarity for the sake of
economic success," he said in a seminar titled "The Nation State
in the Globalization Era" here yesterday.
"There are two forces pulling in opposite directions, one
towards the global business network, the other towards the
national interest," he said.
He stressed the need to uphold a sense of nationalism,
especially among entrepreneurs active in crossborder ventures. He
pointed out that many of the nation's successful businesspeople
were of Chinese descent.
"These businesspeople are part of the nation's potential only
if their success is oriented towards the national economic
interest," he remarked.
Edi then went on to explain that some economists predict that
China, not Japan, will dominate the region in the future.
The domination will not only stem from China's own domestic
economic power but also from the network of Chinese businesses
abroad.
The seminar was held at the National Resilience Institute, the
military think-tank. It was co-organized with the Bakom PKB, a
government-sponsored agency in charge of promoting social
integration between the country's various ethnic groups.
The event, held to commemorate the 88th anniversary of
National Awakening Day next week, was attended by chief of the
Indonesian Democratic Party Megawati Soekarnoputri, and business
tycoon Sudono Salim.
The minister went on to say that, in the future, the private
sector will be the engine of growth in Indonesia.
In fact, of the Rp 680 trillion needed for the ongoing Sixth
National Development Plan period in investment, only one-fourth
will come from government funds while the rest is expected to
come from the private sector.
Despite the fact that the private sector is growing more
powerful and influential, it will still need the help of the
government, Edi warned.
"The private sector can't just walk into the global business
network without the legitimacy that only a government can grant,"
he added.
Edi said that a country is not merely a base for launching
economic activities but represents the businesses' identity,
particularly with regard to legal matters.
He then went on to recount the origins of the Indonesian
nation, not based on any race, religion or group, but rather on a
common purpose and vision.
In various important points of Indonesian history Edi noted
the presence of the ethnic Chinese group.
It was this strong sense of nationalism and common belief, Edi
argued, which must be upheld today.
"Nations who don't have a strong sense of national integrity
will easily disintegrate," he warned and pointed to the break-up
of several east European states as an example.
The minister then pointed out the potential threats which lay
waiting in the nation's path.
He described the two potential conflicts as ethnicity and
religion, as well as wealth disparity.
The danger, according to Edi, is that the two potential
conflicts find an overlap which highlights a particular ethnic
group with the same level of wealth. (mds)
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