The working cabinet of President Joko Widodo should not give second priority to the economy of the people in the coastal areas, a fisheries representative said.
The Peoples Coalition for Fishery Justices (Kiaras) Secretary General, Abdul Halim expressed concern on Friday that the economic policy package would reduce the states role and give free access to investors through new market mechanisms.
"If there is an emphasis only on investment, it will not improve the fishermens welfare. Fishermen will be adversely deprived of their basic rights through economic policy deregulations," Halim said.
He further said that it would become impossible for the government to improve the welfare of fishermen, fish pond cultivators and salt farmers if it depends on deregulation.
But according to President Joko Widodo, the economic policy package will also improve the welfare of fishermen.
"The stimulus package is expected to facilitate inter-regional trade and tourism, as well as increase fishermens welfare and the production of fish catch. The package will also economize fuel by 70 percent through the conversion of diesel fuel into liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)," the President said on Wednesday.
Vice President Jusuf Kalla acknowledged that a lot of things still needed to be improved for the implementation of the economic policy package.
He cited the disbursement of village funds as one of the things in the policy package that needs improvement to prevent it from being abused.
"It (economic package) includes polices that have been implemented for the past two years, such as the KUR (smallholders credit scheme) and the village fund policies," Kalla said on Thursday.
However, the government has not been late in issuing the policy package to support development in Indonesia.
The Indonesian government had issued an economic policy package on Wednesday to strengthen the countrys economic resilience, boost economic growth, expedite government expenditure and strengthen the balance of payments.
According to President Joko Widodo, it will strengthen the national industry and help develop small and medium enterprises. Therefore, he urged all stakeholders to support the government in overcoming Indonesias economic slowdown.
"Let us unite to face the challenges of the global economic slowdown. The government will implement the commitment seriously. I will lead the working cabinet directly to make a breakthrough," the President stated.
He also pointed out that the economic policy package was comprised of three measures.
Firstly, the government would encourage national and industrial competitiveness through investment deregulation, law enforcement and business assurance.
Secondly, the government would accelerate the national strategic project by removing obstacles in the implementation and completion of projects.
Thirdly, the government planned to increase investment in the property sector.
"There are 89 regulations that have been revised as part of the efforts to strengthen coherence, to prune irrelevant regulations and to increase the competitiveness of the national industry," the President reiterated.
He presented 17 government regulations, 11 drafts of presidential decrees (Perpres), two drafts of presidential instruction, 63 drafts of ministerial regulation, as well as five other regulation drafts.
"The government has also simplified getting permits, improved procedures of licensing, strengthened synergy, and used electronic-based services," the President said.
President Widodo also expressed his commitment to completely deregulating all economic packages in September and October 2015.
A legislator and businesses have basically lauded the issuance of the economic policy package.
Businesses grouped in the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) said that fast action is needed to implement the policy.
"Kadin strongly supports the policy of the President. The policy is a breakthrough to revive the countrys economy," Deputy General Chairman of Kadin Rosan P Roeslani said in a statement here on Friday.
Roeslani said Kadin saw the policy as a comprehensive and effective measure to avert the impact of the global crisis and recover the countrys economy from the long slump.
The policy gave new breath to the business sector in facing the present difficulties, he added.
The Kadin deputy chairman called on the government to also move fast in implementing the policy package by formulating short term steps to be taken in cooperation with the business sector.
He said there are too many bottlenecks and hurdles to be removed to facilitate economic development, pointing to weak industrial competitiveness of the country.
Industrial revitalization has been lagging behind with program forgotten for 10 years on being carried away by high prices of primary commodities earlier, he said.
Roeslani, who is chairman of the Recapital Group, said there are three industrial sectors that needs emphasis in development -- agribusiness-based industry, commodity based industry and maritime-based industry.
The Indonesian farmers including livestock farmers and fishermen would never live in prosperity if the manufacturing, agricultural and maritime sectors would not recover, he said.
Positive response also came from a legislator of the Golkar Party. "It is right. This is what former president SBY (Soesilo Bambang Yudhoyono) had never done," legislator Misbakun stated at a discussion on Thursday (Sept 10).
Misbakun noted that the government had also decided to accelerate the implementation of national strategic projects as well as eradicate barriers and obstacles hindering the implementation of national strategic projects. It would also simplify the issuance of spatial permits and land acquisition process, accelerate goods procurement and government services, and impose discretion in dealing with legal matters.
Besides that, the government would also increase investment in the property sector. It would push for housing development for the people belonging to the low-income group and open bigger investment opportunities in the property sector.
Misbakun lauded the president for his courage to eradicate barriers that had been in existence since the former government. "Deregulation and debureaucratization are what we have longed for from the government," he added.(*)
Reporter: Andi Abdussalam
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2015
