'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)