President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has asked businesspeople to separate politics from economic affairs.
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Kompas/Wisnu Widiantoro
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo (second right) is accompanied by Kompas Gramedia CEO Liliek Oetama (third left) and Kompas Newspaper chief editor Budiman Tanuredjo (right) as he arrives at the Kompas100 CEO Forum in Raffles Hotel, Jakarta, on Wednesday (29/11). In his speech, the President stressed that Indonesia must be ready for change in the digital era.
President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has asked businesspeople to separate politics from economic affairs, especially ahead of the political years of 2018 and 2019.
The hope was disclosed by Jokowi in his speech at the Kompas100 CEO Forum in front of 100 CEOs grouped in the Kompas100 Index. The President reminded the businesspeople not to delay their business affairs while waiting for the results of the regional elections in 2018 and presidential election in 2019.
The wait-and-see stance would only hamper the growth of businesses, he said. Indeed, Indonesia will soon enter a phase of political changes. Regional elections will be held across 171 regions on June 27, 2018. Meanwhile, the simultaneous elections — to elect a president and members of the House of Representatives (DPR), Regional Representatives Council (DPD), Provincial Legislative Councils and City and Regency Legislative Councils (DPRDs) — will be held on April 17, 2019.
Throughout Indonesia’s history, tensions rise during the regional elections. However, they could still be settled through agreed upon democratic instruments, which means that Indonesia could be called increasingly mature from the procedural side.
The country sees regional elections take place every year. What Jokowi said is true: if businesses take the wait-and-see stance, they will lose momentum. This momentum refers to the international acknowledgement Indonesia has been waiting for that would officially recognize it as a country worth investing in. These acknowledgements come from ranking institutes such as S&P, Moody’s and Fitch, which also measure the ease of doing business in countries.
On one hand, the hope of President Jokowi is correct. However, difficulties in the business world — such as overlapping regulations, contrasting regulations in the central and regional administrations, and regulations that frequently change — still need the government’s attention.
Rampant bribery and corruption practices are also obstacles that could hamper business. Creating a cool political climate, and not one that encourages emotional sentiments, is needed to encourage businesses to continue operating in the country. To create a cool political climate through rational debates, the political elites need to set a positive example.
The democratic process will cause commotions, especially ahead of the 2018 and 2019 political year. However, we hope not stir emotions and a sense of populism. The political race must stay within the framework of the Pancasila and 1945 Constitution, general elections organizers and government institutions must be neutral and independent.
