Effective and efficient
Effective and efficient
I am extremely concerned about the monetary upheavals and the
economic crisis. Trillions rupiah from oil and gas, general
mining, energy, forestry, estate crops, agriculture, taxes and
foreign loans seem to have entered into chaos.
On the one hand, the man on the street and students were told
for many years to save money. The value of their savings has
strongly declined now and the interest on their savings is taxed.
On the other hand, a few people, by speculating with the money
deposited by the general public, by share trading, and with the
acquisition of foreign loans, could instantly book huge profits
by buying and selling U.S. dollars. Their astronomical gains are
not subject to tax.
When those people bought dollars in July 1997 the prevalent
rate of exchange was Rp 2,400 against the dollar. Later, when the
rupiah had a free fall beyond Rp 10,000 to the dollar, they
exchanged their dollars. It was reported that they made the
contribution because they loved the rupiah. They should have sold
their dollars against a rate of Rp 2,400 if they really loved the
rupiah. They were proud of their contribution.
The present condition is a very big challenge for the next
president and vice president. I would like to make the following
proposals with regard to the next cabinet.
1. The vice president's main duty should be to cooperate with
foreign countries in technology and industry as a preparation
toward globalization.
2. Coordinating ministers and state ministers should be
dispensed with. They would be part of the pertaining ministries.
3. The National Development Planning Board must be changed
into a national development planning and evaluation board. It
should be led by the president himself. Emil Salim is perhaps the
right choice for the board's chairmanship.
4. Supervisory agencies of inspectorates, state-owned
companies, the Development Finance Comptroller, etc., should be
the sole responsibility of the Supreme Audit Agency in line with
the Constitution.
5. State-owned companies which have been mushrooming over the
years and which are neither effective nor efficient must be
dissolved or merged. Thus, there would be no more regulation that
every ministry must have a state-owned company bureau if there
are only eight state-owned companies.
6. A number of ministries should be joined, e.g. the manpower
ministry and the ministry of education and culture; the religion
ministry and the social ministry; the public works ministry and
the home ministry; the ministries of agriculture, plantations and
forestry, and so on.
BACHRAWI SANUSI
Jakarta