SBY’s Tour de Java Ends with 10 Recommendations to Joko’s Administration

Jakarta Globe, Edo Karensa, March 21, 2016 

 

Former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono with wife Ani Yudhoyono visiting
children during the SBY Tour de Java. (Antara Photo/Aloysius Jarot Nugroho)

Jakarta. Former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono marked the end of his Tour de Java by issuing recommendations for 10 major issues to President Joko Widodo’s administration on Sunday (21/03).

SBY, who is also chairman of the Democratic Party, ended the 13-day tour across the Java by holding a coordination meeting with 34 heads of party’s provincial leadership boards in Surabaya, East Java.

“Through many events of ‘meet the people’ and ‘meet the cadres,’ the Democratic Party listens, discuss and gather aspirations directly from the people regarding many latest national issues,” said a party’s statement, released on Sunday.

The visit, which saw him go to West Java, Central Java, Yogyakarta and East Java provinces over 13 days, concluded with the announcement of his findings:

Infrastructure development

The Democrats sees massive infrastructure development under Joko’s leadership as a good thing which will contribute a lot to country’s long-term economy.

Yet, the party suggested the policy should be followed with appropriate funding methods, arguing that "too much state budget for infrastructure will disrupt efforts to eradicate poverty."

Coordination between ministries and stakeholders are also needed to prevent "noisy" policy, like recent issues with the Jakarta-Bandung fast train.

Drugs and terrorism The Democrats support government’s efforts to fight the drugs and terrorism crimes with still respecting the laws and human rights.

State budget and fiscal policy

The Democrats understand serious problems in the state budget, calling on the government to seek rational and feasible solutions.

“It needs to be explained to the public transparently so they can know the problems; how to cover the deficit, whether by issuing new obligations or cutting off the budgets in certain posts,” the statement said.

Tax amnesty draft bill

The party sees the Tax Amnesty draft bill as a good thing and has been implemented appropriately in some other countries. SBY calls on the bill to ensure the aspects of economic benefit, social justice and good governance, before being approved and ratified.

KPK and efforts against corruption

The Democratic Party said the corruption eradication efforts must be prioritized so that a draft bill to weaken the antigraft agency should not be deliberated.

“We don’t want the KPK [Corruption Eradication Commission] to be the only one strong and effective [law enforcement institution]. All law enforcement institutions, like Police and Attorney General’s Office [AGO] [should also be strong].”

Unemployment

SBY’s party called on the government to impose appropriate tax policies to companies as the slowing economy growth has caused lay-offs and poor job absorption.

Political party’s Sovereignty

“Make sure the law supremacy is the main thing, not politics. Law is the commander, not politics,” the party statement said. They called on all parties to respect the parties’ sovereignty in addressing their own problems as stipulated in the laws.

Football and PSSI

The party said the conflicts of the Indonesian Football Association, or PSSI, has caused many losses for the country’s football climate as FIFA sanctioned Indonesia’s football in international events.

“Indonesia is humiliated and people have suffered the loss. The problems have occurred for long tome and dragging on uncertainly. Because of that, it needs to be resolved soon.”

Honorary staff and teachers

The Democrats suggested the government issue a policy ruling on the working guarantee for the honorary staff and teachers who currently cannot be promoted to be civil servants. The policy should be explained clearly to public and implemented consistently.

Government’s transparency and accountability

The Democratic Party sees some use of state budget which is lack of transparency and accountability, calling on the government to improve the governance to prevent budget-misuse and corruption.

The visits, dubbed #TourDeJavaSBY, also aimed to gather supports ahead of the 2017 simultaneous regional elections. In last December's simultaneous regional elections, Democratic Party candidates won 63 positions from 264 province, district and city races.