Economic policies

Economic policies

From Suara Karya

It is really regrettable that Indonesia, a country endowed
with rich natural resources, is in crisis in practically all
aspects of national life, as shown by the country's weak human
resources and poor economic condition.

Unfortunately, the government, in its attempt to lift the
country out of this multidimensional crisis, relies on policies
that do not side with the little people. For example, the
government's decision to raise fuel prices and telephone and
electricity rates. Instead, the government's policies tend to
defend the interests of business tycoons.

Another example of how the government fails to take into
account the interests of the little people is that the interest
rate on Bank Indonesia's promissory notes is kept at over 17
percent annually, so that many banks prefer to buy these
promissory notes rather than channeling their funds to the
public. As a result many small businesses are cash-strapped and
have gone bankrupt.

The government must always remember that in its attempts to
improve the country's economic condition, it must issue and
implement policies that will revive the small-scale businesses of
the little people.

ANDI SYAMSUDDIN

S. Sulawesi