Promoting responsible corporate players

Promoting responsible corporate players

Jakob Oetama, Jakarta

Before the 60th anniversary of Independence Day, (the late)
Nurcholish "Cak Nur" Madjid and Paramadina University took
initiatives to participate in the celebration of the historic
day. The proposed theme of the event was "renewing our mutual
commitment for an independent Indonesia". Apart from Cak Nur's
oration, the ceremony incorporated the speeches of prominent
figures who represented the pluralism of Indonesia. The country's
former presidents were urged to attend the ceremony.

We at Kompas formally invited various parties, including
businesspeople to participate through their attendance and
financial contribution. In a short time, we stimulated their
interest and all went according to plan, although, of all the
former presidents, only Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid was present.

I cited this new experience as an example of the corporate
public responsibility of various circles, including the business
community. The business community has sincere good will and is
ready to participate. But to convince them of a project's worth
also requires credibility and goodwill.

On Aug. 22, one of Indonesian senior economists, Sarbini
Sumawinata, celebrated his 87th birthday in a public lecture. The
theme was on the "Cultural Revolution".

Although he used the term "Cultural Revolution", he spoke more
on what could be described as cultural reform -- cultural reform
and capitalism reform.

Specifically, he made the observation that capitalism is
undergoing changes from within. That is why the economic system
has not abated as Karl Marx confidently predicted. In addition to
the sciences, technology, industry, trade and the information
technology revolution, capitalism does not abrogate because it
reforms itself; from within and outside.

The problems of capitalism from within are clearly described
in the book Spiritual Capital, which was written by Danah Zahar
and Ian Marshall. The sub-heading of the book is Wealth We Can
Live By Using Our Rational, Emotional and Spiritual Intelligence
to Transform Ourselves and Corporate Culture.

Corporate culture is all at once the continuation or
consequence and motivation of reform against capitalism. That is
why the topic of discussion by the Organizing Committee was also
entitled "Corporate Social Responsibility Strategies Through
Collaboration".

In an Indonesian context, I am one of those who have expressed
thoughts and indeed warnings on the position and role of business
in reform. The public and societal leaders are very vocal on the
subject of state reform, namely democracy and human rights. Keen
attention has also been shown to the ideas of civil and social
reforms.

However, when it comes to the presence of the third state,
that is the market-economy stage and its business players and
networks, they have not been as responsive.

Civil society is more progressive in its ideas on pro-
democracy, citizen-oriented and human rights issues than on the
economic-market stage, where it still sticks to the past.

The bad experiences of the past, like collusion, corruption
and nepotism, the misuse of bank loans and other ill practices
are not confined to the past.

We must learn from the past. Justice and a sense of justice
must be fostered by society. However, along with the
aforementioned suggestions, a constructive and critical
orientation should be adopted, namely to reform the market
economy.

The economic market in Indonesia -- willingly or otherwise --
must be based on a mutual agreement, which is described as a
"Just and Civilized Humanity" and as "Social Justice for the
Whole of the People of Indonesia" in the 1945 Constitution. It is
a market economy aimed at creating prosperity for all of the
nation's people.

Such a concept is also mentioned in Spiritual Capital.

In the book, Danah Zonar and Ian Marshall pointed out that
businesses and corporations that incorporate "spiritual capital"
(or "intelligence") are those that seek more inclusive and wider
objectives.

Meaning and value are always incorporated. There is vision and
inspiration. The desire to constantly improve human values like
life, health, communication, education, meeting basic human
needs, sustaining global ecology and reinforcing a sense of
excellence and pride in service.

Companies that are compassionate promote a sense of fellowship
with all related parties. If they become aware of the needs or
the suffering of other people, within their sphere of influence
in particular, they assume responsibility for doing something to
improve the situation.

Business motivation -- for both leaders and players -- is
concerned with more than just profit. They care about the future
of both humanity and the environment, striving for fulfillment.

Meanwhile, they are guided by both intellectual and practical
knowledge. A supportive attitude, trust, hard work, the
appreciation of achievement and innovation, education, a frugal
and honest attitude and the recognition of collaboration are all
values they hold dear.

Thus, jobs are created, advances in technology achieved,
employees and the community appreciated, as well as paying tax
and learning to be socially responsible.

In the context of reforms of the economy and businesses,
social responsibility is not something outside business but a
part of the business or the corporation itself.

As an illustration, I use my own experience in the Kompas
Gramedia Group. Our core business is information and
communication (although there is some extension in other fields),
through the newspaper, magazines, books, radio and television.

Our business is one of information, communications, education
and enlightenment. That is why, my group has quickly become
engaged in social responsibility, in education and enlightenment.

It is true that many intellectuals of this country have
contact with us, in one way or another. We are very aware of the
fact that Indonesia is a pluralistic society, which our founding
father called Bhineka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity), almost
the same as the American E pluribus unum.

Our interactions with young intellectuals and those of the
future come in various forms, including hosting meetings and
writing courses, organizing and facilitating discussions,
providing space for their intellectual endeavors in various
fields and providing various scholarship -- from full to partial
scholarship.

For the sake of progress, mutual understanding, mutual trust
and the strengthening of solidarity, we give great attention to
the enrichment of an open society.

We believe in an open, trusting and cooperative Indonesia,
qualities which I believe need the attention of other businesses
and corporations here.

Through their businesses, activities and institutions,
business players must embrace the principle of Bhina Tunggal Ika.

There are at least two reasons why it is important. It was a
colonial design, that business was geared toward "Foreign
Easterners" or Oosterlingen, namely the Chinese and Indians.
Because the number of people of Chinese ethnicity was higher,
more of them were active in business. That was the condition
after Indonesia's independence -- it is a legacy of the past.

After Indonesia's independence, most of the people of Chinese
ethnicity became Indonesian citizens. But the colonial legacy
continues in various practices, policies, treatments and
attitudes.

It is not conducive for healthy business development, nor for
Indonesia's nation-building.

This is the reason why the market economy and businesses need
to be reformed. Business players and their networks are not
manipulated tools that in turn become manipulative. Business
players have responsibility and commitment like political players
and activists of civil society.

There is no more discrimination among citizens in their rights
and obligations. The obligation and commitment of business
players is needed to develop the economy, and with that
development would come improvements to the lives of all
Indonesian citizens. Protection should not be through power --
which is prone to collusion -- but via legal means.

We must promote -- through mutual trust, control and
interaction -- the growth of businesses in a reformed market
economy and foster the social responsibility of business players,
corporations and companies.

The writer is the chairman of Kompas-Gramedia Group.