Do not restrict regions

Do not restrict regions

From Bisnis Indonesia

I refer to the statement of State Minister of Regional Autonomy Ryaas Rasyid in Bisnis Indonesia of July, 21, titled Autonomous regions shall not issue unilateral regulations. As a citizen of an autonomous region, I dare say it was not quite wise of the state minister to make that statement because it is against the central government's current policy on autonomous regions. The policy defines that the regions are authorized to make any regulations for the interests and welfare of their respective people, whereas he said the central government had a mechanism capable of canceling any autonomous regions' regulations made in the framework of their autonomy.

The statement will no doubt discourage autonomous regional governments from controlling over their own regions' affairs, including the economy, trade, investment and industry. Foreign investors in particular would worry about their investments in the regions since the central government could cancel any agreement made with the autonomous regional governments. Those wishing to invest in the regions would think twice before they decided to do so.

In view of the above, I'd like to appeal to the House of Representatives to kindly ask the state minister to clarify his statement, and should he propose a bill on the matter, the House should absolutely reject it.

B.Q. VEGA

Jakarta