Hamzah targets economic equality
Zakki P. Hakim, Jakarta
While other presidential and vice presidential candidates are putting job creation at the top of their economic platforms, Hamzah Haz and his running mate Agum Gumelar are focusing on economic equality, which they define as equal access to goods and public services.
According to a document describing the pair's vision and mission, the goal can be achieved through improved "synergy" between the government, the corporate and banking sectors, and the people.
Hamzah is the incumbent vice president and the leader of the United Development Party (PPP), while Agum is a retired Army lieutenant general.
Hamzah, who studied economics, was assisted by vice presidential special staff coordinator La Ode Kamaluddin, House of Representatives spokesman and entrepreneur Barlianta Harahap, and Medco finance director Sugiharto in forming the platform.
To improve the synergy between the banking sector and the corporate sector, Hamzah aims to push lending from the former to the latter.
According to his platform, the main obstacle in the channeling of funds to businesses is the lack of accurate information flowing between the two sectors.
Therefore, setting up a "consultant" to help banks narrow the information gap between the banking and corporate sectors is essential, the document says.
Although many banks have begun to recover from the late 1990s financial crisis thanks to a costly government bailout program, banks have yet to resume significant lending to the corporate sector to allow businesses to expand and create new jobs. Bankers often cite lingering risks in the corporate sector, particularly due to the slow progress in restructuring corporate debt.
Hamzah's platform also includes a promise to help facilitate funding from banks and other sources to support entrepreneurs and the development of small and medium-sized enterprises.
Because many people face problems in starting up businesses, the government must provide consultation in the areas of finance, production, marketing and information technology, according to the platform.
Modernizing the bureaucracy is also seen as an essential part of Hamzah's economic platform, as it plays crucial role in pushing economic growth.
A corrupt bureaucracy and inconsistent policies between government institutions are often blamed for deterring investment, a key ingredient to accelerating economic growth.
Noting that the current bureaucracy is ineffective, Hamzah aims to make changes through the synchronization of development programs designed by institutions and ministries.
Other policies outlined in the platform to support Hamzah's grand economic strategy include pushing the development of infrastructure, transportation, telecommunications, housing and social security.
Hamzah and Agum also say they will minimize the income gap between government employees and workers in the private sector.