Businesspeople seek to set up networks with Susilo
Businesspeople seek to set up networks with Susilo
Dadan Wijaksana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Where there is sugar, there are ants, says an Indonesian
proverb. And while it is still too early to determine the
prospects of the Democratic Party (Partai Demokrat) and its
cofounder Gen. (ret) Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono due to the sluggish
pace of ballot counting, many people are now heading for the
sugar.
The ants? There are many -- from ambitious politicians to
rent-seeking businesspeople.
The party and SBY, as he is also known here, have been slowly,
yet surely, climbing up to gain entry to the elite political
circle. Some even say that Susilo is already well-placed to
challenge more established politicians in the July 5 direct
presidential election.
Only time will tell whether or not the predictions are
accurate.
But for Indonesians -- where corruption, collusion and
nepotism (KKN) have become a national culture -- the sugar and
ant trend is an old pattern. People, including businessmen, are
trying to set up networks with Susilo and his party as an
anticipatory move, which could turn into personal gain if he wins
the presidency.
"I know personally that some colleges have been eager to meet
SBY ever since the (ballot) counting began," said a businessman
who declined to be identified.
"I don't know for what purpose, but it's fair to say that they
are looking to build relationships with him. I mean who knows, it
may be handy if SBY really becomes president," said the
businessman, who is also an executive in the country's electronic
association.
He was quick to add, however, that such a trend was also
common elsewhere in the world, where interest groups would
strengthen their lobbying capacity with future policy makers.
Indeed, due to its powerful lobbying capacity, the interests
of the business community would be a key element leaders the
world over would taken into account in determining policy.
Indonesia should be no exception.
"But one should not jump to conclusions that building such
a relationship is always a bad thing. As long as it does not
violate the law, I do not see anything wrong with that," another
businessman, who owns a shoe factory here, said.
"Maybe it's because they see SBY as a figure who can maintain
stability and security here."
The business community has often complained that it was much
easier to do business in Soeharto's era. Having good relations
Soeharto's children or cronies, would be all that was needed to
solve most of the problems. But now as the president is no longer
the only center of power, businessmen also have to have good
relations with other power holders.