'Moslems lack cooperative spirit in business'
'Moslems lack cooperative spirit in business'
JAKARTA (JP): Although Indonesian Moslems do not lack entrepreneurial skills, they lack the cooperative spirit commonly found among non-Moslem entrepreneurs, top economist Marzuki Usman said yesterday.
Marzuki said at a seminar yesterday that this lack of cooperation accounted for the fact that Indonesia's Moslem entrepreneurs trail behind other businesspeople.
Marzuki said his assertion was not intended to set Moslems against non-Moslems, but was simply a statement of fact.
"By knowing the facts, we can take a close look at how to improve the quality of Moslem entrepreneurs," said Marzuki, who is chairman of the Association of Indonesian Economists.
Marzuki, who is also chief commissioner of the Jakarta Stock Exchange, was one of the speakers at the one-day seminar on Islam and entrepreneurship. It was held as part of the ongoing Second Istiqlal Festival of Islamic Arts and Culture.
Other speakers included Minister of Manpower Abdul Latief, vice chairman of the Indonesian Council of Ulemas Ali Yafie and noted Moslem scholar Dawam Rahardjo from Muhammadiyah University in Malang, East Java.
Marzuki said the concerns expressed about Moslem entrepreneurs trailing behind other businesspeople are well founded, especially now with the economy becoming more competitive.
"If Moslem entrepreneurs would just wake up to the challenges and the opportunities of the free market system, they could better anticipate trends and be able to meet those challenges."
He pointed out that the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, of which Indonesia is a member, has agreed to liberalize trade and investment within the region by the year 2020.
"Moslem entrepreneurs should forge cooperation in improving their human resources and in increasing business professionalism and competitiveness to face the free trade era," he said.
Ali Yafie said Moslems should accept the fact that ethnic Chinese are dominating the economy and that this is a phenomenon found not only in Indonesia, but in the rest of Asia.
"Don't be pessimistic about it," Yafie said.
He underlined that Chinese entrepreneurship is based on two principles -- diligence and toughness -- and that the Prophet Muhammad acknowledged such principles.
Yafie also suggested that the economic conditions of Moslems in Indonesia, including entrepreneurs, should be improved.
He underlined the importance of a work ethos embracing honesty, intelligence, diligence and trustworthiness, which are based on faith.
"As a majority here, Moslems have the potential to expand entrepreneurship based on those ethics," he said.
Yafie lamented the fact that many Moslems with strong educational backgrounds look for jobs when they could be creating job opportunities for themselves. (31)