October 6, 2015 edition
The government's pride should not get in the way of importing rice if we really need to do so. There must be no fear of being accused of failing to achieve the self-sufficiency target. Forget self-sufficiency for a while, the fact is that we are still unable to prevent shortages of our main staple food. So, there's no other way but to import rice, if it's necessary. Importing would not mean being against local farmers. The interest of the public, particularly those in the lower rungs, those who are vulnerable to the rise in the prices of basic needs, must be made a priority.
The price hike resulting from the rice shortage has been really felt in the past few months. Since mid-year, the price of (medium) rice has inched up from Rp9,000 per kilogram to Rp10,000 last week. The drought in a number of areas caused by El Nino has made the situation worse, thus hiking the price of rice last month.
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More Opinion articles in other editions
September 29, 2015 edition
Although his role was disguised as 'mediator' House of Representatives (DPR) Speaker Setya Novanto need not have summoned Attorney General M. Prasetyo to discuss a legal case. The closed meeting at Senayan between Setya and DPR Deputy Speakers Fadli Zon and Fahri Hamzah, along with two members of the DPR Law Commission to discuss a dispute between two corporations, can be seen as the legislature's interference in the due process of law.
Fadli Zon's reasoning that the closed meeting was only to ensure that no abuse of power took place in the investigation sounds a bit discordant. Why did the DPR get involved, when the Attorney General's Office (AGO) corruption eradication taskforce was already investigating the case, which involves allegations of collusion in the sale of under-valued state assets, resulting in the state losing hundreds of billions of rupiah?
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September 22, 2015 edition
Behind the Jakarta administration's stance in banning the rent of cars through the Uber app, there is a sense of unease that is difficult to conceal. This is because Jakarta has no satisfactory legal instrument to regulate the app businesswhich seems limitless. Even Law No. 11/2008 on Electronic Information and Transactions does not cover in detail the use of specific apps for businesses.
The Uber car ban that was pushed through has proven to be ineffective. Despite the threats of raids and confiscations, the business continues to operate. If data from Uber can be believed, in Jakarta alone there are around 6,000 cars using the apps. Even with the threat of raids, Uber drivers are still carrying passengers. At the same time, more and more conventional taxi customers are switching to Uber.
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September 15, 2015 edition
Let's give the government 'A' for effort for its recent launching of the long-awaited economic policy package. Although generally regarded as a letdown by pessimists and despite the lackluster points that are already predicted to fail in kick-starting the economy, yet the package contains a few hopeful and interesting proposals.
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September 8, 2015 edition
It is difficult to not compare the series of 'Bersih' (Clean) demonstrations demanding that Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak step down with the situation in Indonesia back on May 1998. There has been no rioting, because the security forces and demonstrators have restrained themselves. But it is not impossible that Najib, like Suharto, will eventually have to bow to the demands of people power echoing in the main thoroughfares of Kuala Lumpur last week.
At first glance, this yellow-shirted movement is like those everywhere: evidence of a growing middle class political awareness. This particular awareness is marked by the rejection of the government's explanation about the mysterious funds in Najib's personal bank account, which is seen as 'an insult to common sense'.
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September 1, 2015 edition
The flood of foreign unskilled workers brought in to work at a number of projects is truly ironic. With unemployment affecting some 7 million people-most of them unskilled laborers-the foreign workers are rightly being seen as taking the job opportunities of their local counterparts. The government should not have allowed this to happen.
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August 25, 2015 edition