Experts support plan for special ICT ministry

Experts support plan for special ICT ministry

JAKARTA (JP): Experts gave their support on Monday to a
proposal to establish a special ministry for information,
communications, and technology (ICT) in the new Cabinet of
President Megawati Soekarnoputri.

ICT expert Roy Suryo said that such a separate ministry -- to
be possibly called the ministry of telecommunications, media and
information -- could help accelerate the development of the
country's ICT sector.

He said the government had so far treated the ICT sector as
secondary to other sectors.

"For example the telecommunications sector is (currently) put
under the Ministry of Communications which also oversees the
transportation sector.

"And research and technology doesn't even have its own
ministry, but is a state ministry," he said, adding that it was
no wonder the growth of ICT in the country was stagnating.

A member of the Indonesian Internet Service Providers
Association (APJII), Heru Nugroho, said the establishment of a
separate ministry for ICT would demonstrate to the world the
seriousness of the Indonesian government in developing ICT.

"That in turn would encourage foreign investors to put their
money in the Indonesian ICT sector," he said, explaining that
currently many foreign ICT investors were reluctant to enter
Indonesia because of the government's half-hearted attention to
the sector.

An example of the government's lack of commitment to the ICT
sector was the sluggish progress of the bill for Indonesia's
cyber law, Heru said.

"Until now, it (the cyber law) is still only in the draft
form. Why? Because the one in charge is only at the level of
director general and not a minister," he said.

Former president B.J. Habibie put telecommunications under the
Ministry of Communications which also oversees public
transportation. It was retained when Abdurrahman Wahid assumed
power in 1999.

In the Ministry of Communications, ICT is placed under a
directorate general of posts and telecommunications, which also
oversees the development of the Internet -- together with the
State Ministry for Research and Technology -- and the use of
radio frequencies.

During the Soeharto era, the telecommunications sector was
overseen by the ministry of tourism, posts, and
telecommunications, while the media was put under the ministry of
information.

Chairman of the Indonesian Internet Kiosks Association (Awari)
Rudy Rusdiah said that the proposed ministry of
telecommunications, media, and information was hoped to provide a
definite direction in the development of ICT.

"There should be a blueprint and specific milestones for ICT,
what we hope to achieve in five years, ten years, for example,"
he said.

Roy said that the ministry should be led by someone
professional, who doesn't have a political background and who at
least has had one year experience in handling ICT matters.

Some names which had been tipped to lead the ministry include
Makarim Wibisono, J.B. Kristiadi and Dipo Alam, chairman of the
Indonesian Telecommunications Kiosks Association (APWI) Srijanto
said.

The plan to establish a separate ministry for ICT was
initiated recently by the House of Representative's seven major
factions for President Megawati Soekarnoputri's new Cabinet.

The seven factions were Golkar, PDI Perjuangan, United
Development faction (PP-F), the Crescent Star Party (PBB), the
Reform faction, the United Ummat Sovereignty (PDU), and the
Indonesian Nationhood faction (KKI).

Reports said the Cabinet is expected to have 36 ministers,
including some expected to head ministries that were dissolved by
former president Abdurrahman Wahid, particularly the information
and social affairs ministries.

Some analysts have raised concerns that the new ministry on
telecommunications, media and information would only be another
name to replace the former functions of the previous ministry of
information.

During the Soeharto era the ministry of information held a
tight reign on the development of the mass media in the country.
It had the right to cancel the permit of any media that it
considered subversive.

Abdurrahman Wahid dissolved the ministry because it was
considered as countering freedom of speech. (tnt)