Emil warns of excesses from industrialization
Emil warns of excesses from industrialization
JAKARTA (JP): Senior economist Emil Salim says Indonesia
should anticipate some of the maladies found in Western society,
most notably materialism, individualism, consumerism and
secularism as it forges forward its industrialization program.
"We should learn from the Western experience in carrying out
their industrial revolution," Emil said during a seminar on
industrial society yesterday.
"We have to choose between allowing the nation to develop into
a Western-style industrial society or creating a new one which is
more in accordance with Indonesian culture.
Materialism, individualism, consumerism and secularism would
damage the value system the nation has since long held, said
Emil, who served in President Soeharto's cabinets for over two
decades until last year.
He is now lecturing at the School of Economics of the
University of Indonesia.
The seminar is the seventh and last of a series organized by
the Ministry of Manpower since June. The two-day seminar is
scheduled to be closed today by Vice President Try Sutrisno.
The industrialization process, which began in Europe in 19th
century, is now affecting countries in Asia, like Taiwan and
South Korea, Emil said in his keynote address.
The kind of industrial society which Indonesia is striving
should be built upon strong moral and religious values, and on
the state ideology Pancasila, and not simply on economic
principles, he said.
"Moral and religious values and the communal system should be
encouraged to grow because they can counter the negative impacts
of the industrial society," he said.
Service sector
Emil said in his paper that Indonesia, in carrying out its
industrialization process, should also strive to develop its
services sector which is as important as the manufacturing sector
in terms of providing job opportunities and in generating foreign
exchange revenues.
He cited banking and tourism as two of the most potential
fields in the services sector. (rms)