Crisis center awaits President's approval

Crisis center awaits President's approval

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Plans for a crisis center to coordinate government policies
and balance the interests of different economic sectors requires
President Megawati Soekarnoputri's approval in order for it to
work, said the National Economic Recovery Committee (KPEN).

"A crisis center won't be effective without a political
umbrella from the President," KPEN chairman Sofyan Wanandi told
reporters on Tuesday.

The government, with urging from the private sector, set up a
crisis center last month to resolve long-standing business
problems that often require different ministries to handle them.

Led by Minister of Industry and Trade Rini MS Soewandi, the
crisis center focuses on coordinating the policies of different
ministries for putting together workable solutions.

Sofyan said that Rini had proposed to the State Secretariat
that the crisis center come under a presidential decree. So far
there has been no response.

For now, the crisis center may only issue policies within
Rini's position as minister of industry and trade.

From the onset, however, analysts have expressed doubt over
the crisis center's ability to solve complex problems precisely
because Rini heads it.

They said the center should be led by Coordinating Minister
for the Economy Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti.

Many problems plaguing businesses here concern the involvement
of different ministries.

Among the latest is a mining dispute over protected forests,
which has called the Ministry of Forestry and the Ministry of
Energy and Mineral Resources into action.

Trade issues also often drag the Ministry of Agriculture into
conflict with Rini's office, and in some cases both come out with
conflicting policies.

Sofyan said that many solutions approved together by various
ministries were bogged down during their implementation.

"There are a lot of big egos in the ministries, so as long as
ministers lack the good will to resolve problems together, then
any deal they make along with their director-generals won't be
optimal," he said.