Pessimism greets regional autonomy on Day One
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia officially entered a new era with the implementation of regional autonomy on Monday, but it was greeted mostly by pessimism at the national level as officials feared that it would usher in a period of bureaucratic chaos.
There was little fanfare for such a significant occasion, viewed with indifference or pessimism by many senior political figures here who noted the lack of preparation, both administratively and legally.
Those brimming at the prospect of regional autonomy were provincial officials who will acquire much of the authority they have long coveted.
No less than People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Amien Rais was pessimistic as he predicted the pitfalls ahead.
"I'm worried with the implementation of Law 22/1999 and Law 25/1999 since two architects of the laws have gone," he remarked during a year-end lecture at Gadjah Mada University's mosque in Yogyakarta.
"Former Finance Minister Bambang Sudibyo has been replaced, and (State Minister for Administrative Reform) Ryaas Rasyid will resign on Jan. 4," Amien said.
Law 22/1999 defines the implementation of regional administrations and Law 25/1999 regulates the financial balance between the central government and local administrations.
Amien, who is also chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN), believes both current Minister of Finance Prijadi Praptosoehardjo and Minister of Home Affairs and Regional Autonomy Soerjadi Soedirdja will not be able to cope with the confusion which is sure to arise.
He predicted that tension and problems would emanate between the central government and regional administrations, and between regions.
He cited the plantation sector as one field which could foment confusion.
Even Ryaas Rasyid, a key individual who drew up the regional autonomy blueprint, predicts that as it stands regional autonomy would likely be counterproductive because most regions were not sufficiently prepared to run an autonomous administration.
Ryaas also believes the central government has so far been half-hearted in its intentions to implement it.
"I have a political and moral responsibility for its implementation. But with the central government's poor preparations, I won't take the responsibility for its possible failure," he remarked.
"I'm pessimistic of regional autonomy success because with the absence of necessary regulations and presidential decrees to enforce the laws on autonomy and fiscal equity, it will only burden the people," Ryaas warned.
He said regencies and provinces have long awaited autonomy but so far the necessary legal regulations and decrees have still not been issued.
Ryaas said that in his initial concept at least 15 government regulations and 117 presidential decrees would have to be introduced to regulate the various authorities in numerous sectors, including mining, education, health, taxation and retribution collection, and forestry.
He further regretted that local politicians only emphasized the decentralization of authority and a bigger financial share of natural resources exploitation.
"They forget their obligation to provide better service to the public and to empower the people," he said.
He further feared that under the prevailing conditions corrupt practices witnessed in the central government would now only be widened to the regions.
Despite the apparent pessimism in Jakarta, regional officials were upbeat about the process.
West Sumatra Council speaker Arwan Kasri emphasized that his office was ready to face its new responsibilities.
"We are still optimistic since we know that the province with a population of 4.3 million has economic potential which has yet to be explored," Arwan was quoted by Antara as saying on Monday.
In Surakarta, Central Java, the implementation of regional autonomy was marked with the symbolic handover to the mayoralty of 14 offices which were earlier under the central government and provincial administrations. (23/rms/jun)