VP warns against regional egoism

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)