Only radical reforms can end present crisis, says scholar

JAKARTA (JP): Political scholar Nurcholish Madjid said yesterday the nation must be willing to engage in radical political and economic reforms if it is to lift itself from the monetary crisis.

Addressing a discussion on good governance, Nurcholish said the economic crisis was not cyclical but systematic.

"We will be successful in salvaging our economy only if we take fundamental measures to settle the crisis," he told participants of the discussion, organized by the Bina Pembangunan Foundation.

He said the country should abandon the current model of state leadership, which is under the authority of one person.

"Good governance cannot be established upon a person's goodwill," he said. "There must be transparency in the implementation of all policies and also social control by the people."

Constitutional law expert, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, called for a reform of the 1945 Constitution.

"The People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) and the House of Representatives (DPR) are supposed to perform the people's task as social control.

"Yet, the two legislative councils are still unable to perform such duties," said Yusril, who joined Nurcholish in the same discussion session.

He said amendments to the Constitution might be beneficial in improving the performance of the two legislative councils.

Nurcholish said the state leader should be brilliant and provide examples of attitude to the people in their daily life.

"State leaders must be long-term oriented," he said.

He also said that state leaders should not be greedy and opportunistic.

"State leaders now act not only as the state authority but also businesspeople," he said.

Nurcholish suggested the government guarantee that laws be applied equally and accordingly.

"Foreign investors will come here if we can guarantee that the Rule of Law principles be upheld," he said. "Currently, they doubt investing their money here because the country lacks political and economic predictability."

Former student activist of the 1966 generation, Siswono Yudohusodo, called on the nation yesterday to continue efforts to establish a fair political culture and attitude among the people.

"A fair political culture and attitude is important to eradicate dissatisfaction and hatred, which can still be found among some Indonesians," Siswono told a seminar on politics, held by the Association of the Indonesian Catholic Intellectuals in Semarang yesterday.

Siswono, who is also the Minister of Transmigration, said that dissatisfaction and hatred grow prolifically among people or parties, who have not been exposed to political competition. (imn/har)

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