RI business may have no ethics, says Aburizal

RI business may have no ethics, says Aburizal

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian businesses may have no ethics, so it
is understandable that the public considers businesspeople
cunning and hostile members of society, noted businessman
Aburizal Bakrie said here yesterday.

Aburizal, chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and
Industry said: "I personally believe there are no business ethics
in Indonesia."

There were many violations of what should have been standard
business ethics, he said.

"In such cases, businesses merely seek as much profit as they
can with total disregard for the public's interest and the
environment," he said as he announced his plan to launch a
campaign to promote business ethics.

Examples included the extensive practice of bribing government
officials, the indifferent displacement of people in areas where
projects were to be built and the efforts of big businesses to
squash small businesses.

"In fact, there is a public belief that businesses are so
powerful, they can actually steer government policies. This
belief is very dangerous because not only does it harm business
reputations but the government's as well," he said.

"In the long run, this could lead to social discontent," he
said.

He said the bureaucracy was also responsible for this
situation.

"It takes two to tango: Bribes and illegal fees would not be
happening if there was no response from businesses," he said.

He said the business ethics campaign -- to be held by the
Indonesian Business Ethics Foundation of which he is chairman of
the board of advisors -- would be targeted at the public in
general because business ethics should be understood not only by
businesspeople but also by those not directly involved in
business such as government officials.

The campaign will be in the form of a series of seminars which
will start next week and continue until December.

Speakers will include religious figures, businesspeople, and
political, social and cultural experts.

Aburizal said the campaign would promote the concept that a
good business should be based on reliable ethics.

"Business calculations and policies that aim only at
increasing a company's profits are wrong. Good and ethical
business practices take into account all parties related to the
business," he said.

Aburizal, who was accompanied by political scientist Fachry
Ali at yesterday's press launch of the campaign, said that
creating an Indonesian society which adhered to sound business
ethics might be a utopian ideal which could take decades, or
more, to achieve.

"But I don't believe our culture encourages practices such as
corruption and collusion. It is the conditions that people face
that pressure them into doing disrespectful things," he said.

Aburizal said the campaign was expected to nurture a "culture
of shame" because the punishment meted out by the public would be
"far greater than that by the authorities".

"Currently (government officials) openly ask for something in
return for the services they provide ... If they felt shame, they
would not do this," he said.

Aburizal agreed that legal certainty was an important aspect
in promoting business ethics.

"But there are certain things that are not covered by the law,
but still violate ethics," he said.

Fachry Ali said results of the foundation's studies and
seminars could be used as a basis for a law to prevent
monopolies.

Observers have called for such a law, but the government has
never given a serious response. (pwn)