Fuel oil price hike

Fuel oil price hike

From Merdeka

Is there a close link between campaign promises made during
the May 1997 general election and the government's preparations
to increase the price of fuel oil? The government considers it
necessary to increase the price of fuel oil owing to the
increasing amount of government subsidies to the sector and the
weakening of the rupiah's exchange rate against the U.S. dollar.
Ironically, fuel oil is derived from the country's natural
wealth, which is abundantly available according to relevant
experts.

Economists are generally unanimous in their opinion that the
national economic situation is getting worse and that the rupiah
crisis has prompted businessmen to raise the prices of their
commodities and services. With respect to the concept of a fuel
oil price hike, it is generally believed that the prices of other
commodities and daily necessities such as rice, corn, sago,
beancurds, soybean cake, etc. would also rise.

If one is to spotlight the policy promises made during the
general election campaign, it is only logical that attention
should be devoted to the campaign conducted by the winning party.
It is known the world over that the Functional Group (Golkar) was
victorious in the recent general election. The international
community, therefore, is now interested in the way Golkar will
try to handle the impacts of globalization. In experts'
estimates, negative repercussions for Indonesia from
globalization stem from the slow reform of the New Order's
political system, which, having been enforced in the last
one-and-a-half decades, is now virtually outdated.

In this context, it should not be forgotten that common
people, those in low-income brackets, willingly leave their fate
to their fellow countrymen who are elected to govern this
country. Usually considered wise, they are entrusted to execute
the mandate given them by the people.

At this juncture, the promises made by Golkar during its
election campaign should be well remembered. Golkar made a pledge
that it would side with small and medium-sized businesses and
cooperatives during our national economic development. It also
promised that it would improve people's economic condition
through cooperatives and state or private companies. Golkar is
aiming at abolishing poverty, reducing the rate of unemployment
and scrapping monopolies and oligopolies.

As for the substance of the campaigns conducted by the other
two contestants in the general election, it generally related to
efforts to improve the quality of work.

The United Development Party promised to fight for economic
development benefiting people at large. To achieve this goal,
they claimed it is necessary to pass a decree through the
People's Consultative Assembly, the highest institution in the
country, concerning economic democracy and introduce laws
relating to small and medium-sized businesses. The party also
proposed that the assembly should also pass a decree on natural
resources management.

The Indonesian Democratic Party promised to strive for
political solutions to a host of problems stemming from gaps
between regions, sectors and social layers. The party believes
that an economic solution alone would not be adequate in this
respect. It claims that development does not simply mean
constructing buildings and airports, but rather it involves
conscience.

SUNGKOWO SOKAWERA

Bandung, West Java