VP warns against regional egoism

JAKARTA (JP): Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri warned local administrations on Saturday on the dangers of creeping regional egoism, which could jeopardize ties with the central government and undermine national unity.

During her opening address at the Batam Expo 2001 in Batam, Riau, on Saturday, Megawati said the regional autonomy concept would be damaged if regional administrations attempted to usurp local financial sources for the sake of boosting their coffers.

She said hasty implementation of autonomy without a matured concept and necessary regulations would only raise new problems.

"Regions, especially those rich in resources, should not think of themselves, and local officials should not use their authority to engage in new corrupt and collusive practices," she said as quoted by Antara.

Megawati said that regional autonomy was aimed at improving government services to the public, empowering the people, especially low- and middle-class entrepreneurs and promoting democracy.

"Of course, regions must be creative in developing their potential and using all opportunities to improve the people's social welfare but in this case, local administrations must function as facilitators," she said.

She pointed out that less-developed regions should not depend on the available funds but must be creative in creating financial sources for development programs.

The key problem was not the lack of necessary regulations to enforce laws on regional autonomy and fiscal balance, but the absence of a strong commitment among our officials to create good and clean governance, she said.

The Vice President admitted that small-scale entrepreneurs were having difficulties in developing their businesses due to the prolonged economic crisis and political instability.

She said they must maintain vigilance to survive the multidimensional crisis.

Megawati said the present crisis also indicated a weak national resilience, especially in political, economic and security fields.

"We are witnessing social disparity among the people, regions and various sectors. A part of the people can survive the economic hardship, several sectors can develop and there are regions which are rich on natural resources," she said.

Also attending the ceremony were Minister of Industry and Trade Luhut B. Pandjaitan, State Minister of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises Zarkasih Nur, and a number of local and foreign investors.

Meanwhile, in a meeting of Sumatran governors in Batam on Friday, Minister of Home Affairs and Regional Autonomy Surjadi Sudirdja proposed a proportional income distribution among regions in a province to avoid disparity among them.

"To reach a fair fiscal balance, regencies in a province could pool their annual income and share it proportionally. Under such a concession, least-developed regencies could share more," he said in the meeting, which was held to familiarize the autonomy laws and regulations. (rms)