Factories urged to promote harmony
Factories urged to promote harmony
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
State Minister of the Environment Nabiel Makarim has called on
factories to run social development programs to promote harmony
with locals so that social problems can be avoided and their
survival assured.
Nabiel said factories would die unless they worked hand in
hand with locals in the areas where they operated.
"Factories will die unless they pay adequate attention to
their surroundings," said Nabiel, who likened factories and
locals to fish and water.
The minister made the statement during a field trip to PT Riau
Andalas Pulp and Paper (RAPP) in Pangkalan Kerinci, Pelalawan
regency, Riau, over the weekend.
The minister was referring to the fate of PT Inti Indorayon
Utama, a pulp and rayon mill that recently moved to China
following the rejection by local people of the company's presence
in Porsea, North Sumatra.
Indigenous people in North Sumatra opposed the company's
presence in the province because it neglected to establish a
social development program with local people in the Toba-Samosir
regency. They also claimed it caused air and water pollution in
the regency.
Nabiel pointed out that most factories were accustomed to
building walls around their plants to separate them from their
surroundings, thus alienating local people.
According to him, it was only fair for plants to introduce
social development programs for people in their surroundings to
increase employment and improve their welfare.
"I personally appreciate the close ties between RAPP and
locals here (Pangkalan Kerinci). To date the pulp and paper
factory has had no serious problems with locals because the
company contributes to the progress of the people. Under such a
conducive climate and regional autonomy, local people care about
the company's survival," Antara quoted him as saying.
The minister also asked factories to forge cooperation with
local administrations, instead of the central government, to help
solve problems.
He cited, for example, how in the past companies would nurture
ties with the State Palace and the military to help them deal
with labor problems or trouble with locals.
"Companies using such a dated practice would be committing
suicide in the reform era. It is better for companies to solve
existing problems before a conflict explodes," he warned.
Meanwhile, RAPP president Ibrahim Hasan said that while
running a social development program with locals as well as
employees, RAPP was still seeking an effective program in line
with the real condition and the local culture in the regency.
He said the company, in cooperation with the local
administration, hoped to devise an effective program for local
farmers in an endeavor to fight poverty and backwardness in the
regency.