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.