MPR commission completes draft of economic recovery decree
MPR commission completes draft of economic recovery decree
Fitri Wulandari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Commission B of the Annual Session of the People's
Consultative Assembly (MPR) completed on Friday the deliberation
of the draft of an economic recovery decree after all the
factions agreed to include the word pribumi (indigenous) in the
draft.
"MPR leaders had advised the Commission to stress improving
economic conditions, particularly for the underprivileged and
indigenous people as in reality 60 percent of them were still
living below the poverty line," Assembly Speaker Amien Rais told
reporters after a consultative meeting with the head of
Commission B and faction leaders.
"But we will still give attention to the nonindigenous," he
said.
The consultative meeting was held after Commission B failed on
Thursday to complete the draft as members were split on whether
or not to put the word pribumi in item number five of the basic
policies.
Point five of the basic policies to speed up economic recovery
reads as follow:
"Improving the national economic structure by widening public
participation and emancipation, including gender equity, so as to
boost and develop the economy of the underprivileged and
indigenous people, and reorganize the distribution system of the
people's needs as producers and consumers to improve
productivity."
The contentious part lies in the word pribumi, or indigenous.
The word could be interpreted as showing that the government
sides with certain groups in society. It is also generally known
that the words pribumi and non pribumi are often used to
differentiate Indonesians of Chinese descent from other ethnic
groups.
The initial draft did not mention either the words pribumi or
"underprivileged".
Some factions who rejected the word pribumi in the draft said
the sentence was discriminative and racist. The 1945 Constitution
stipulates that every Indonesian citizen has equal rights before
the law and to get protection.
On the other hand, those supporting the new draft argued that
nonindigenous people had contributed to the collapse of the
country's economy. They also said nonindigenous people had
prevented indigenous people from getting their fair share of the
economic cake.
Several legislators cited the scandals involving the BLBI
liquidity support loans. A total of 48 banks have been charged
with misusing around Rp 138 trillion in the loans which were
initially provided to prevent them from collapsing in the wake of
the economic crisis.
Most of these banks were owned by Chinese tycoons.
Rambe Kamarulzaman, the head of Commission B, dismissed
allegations that the use of the word pribumi was an indication
that the government was siding with certain ethnic groups. He
said the word "underprivileged" was an adequate reference to the
poor in general.
"Besides, is it wrong for us to give special attention to
pribumi people?" Rambe asked.
Meanwhile, Commission C recommended that the President revoke
and review all presidential decrees whose issuance were the
result of corruption and collusion.
Barlianta Harahap, the head of Commission C, said that efforts
to eradicate corruption had not been successful.
"Corruption, collusion and nepotism are now more rampant in
both in the central and local governments," Barlianta said.
The MPR also told the President to complete deliberation of a
bill on the Commission for the Eradication of Corruption with the
House of Representatives.
Commission C also recommended the government follow up on the
results of a series of dialogues with Free Aceh Movement (GAM)
rebels.
"The conflict in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam poses a serious
threat of disintegration," said Barlianta.
The government was also recommended to make efforts to hold
negotiations on Aceh within the country. Past negotiations were
held in Switzerland.