Hamzah targets economic equality
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.