The Omnibus Law Draws Criticism
The government plans to turn in a draft of the Omnibus Law to the House of Representatives (DPR) this month.
LUCIUS Karus, a researcher from the Forum of Society Concerned for the Indonesian Parliament, considers that the writing of the academic paper and draft of the Omnibus Law has not been transparent. “The process was done in a rather closed manner. It is not clear what interest this served,” said Lucius on Friday, January 17.
According to Lucius, the government and the DPR should have opened the room for public participation so that this regulation does not create any unrest when it is passed into law. He also criticized the target to complete the Omnibus Law within 100 days. He is concerned that a rushed process will reduce the quality of the Omnibus Law.
Nining Elitos, a representative of the Gerakan Buruh Bersama Rakyat (Workers and People Movement), said that the Omnibus Law for job creation will likely be detrimental for the working class. She cited that it will likely make it easier to lay off workers. The criminal provisions regarding labor will likely be eliminated and replaced with civil law sanctions. Ellena Ekarahendy, chairperson of the executive board of the Union of Media Workers and the Creative Industry for Democracy (Sindikasi), is concerned that the Omnibus Law will likely strengthen the contract system which does not benefit workers. “They can be fired arbitrarily,” she said
President Joko Widodo said that the Bill of the Omnibus Law will likely eliminate investment obstacles as encountered in some regulations. On January 14, Jokowi met with his coalition party supporters to discuss the Omnibus Law. “The President does indeed hope that this can be completed in 100 working days,” said United Development Party (PPP) Secretary-General Arsul Sani. DPR Deputy Speaker Sufmi Dasco Ahmad said that the parliament is ready to oversee the discussions of that draft regulation.
Corruption Suspects at Jiwasraya
THE Attorney General’s Office (AGO) named five suspects in the corruption case of Asuransi Jiwasraya on Tuesday, January 14. They are: former Jiwasraya CEO Hendrisman Rahim, former finance director Hary Prasetyo, former investment and finance division head Syahmirwan; Hanson International commissioner Benny Tjokrosaputro, and Trada Alam Minera president commissioner Heru Hidayat.
Chief of the AGO’s Center for Legal Information Hari Setiyono said that the suspects were immediately detained. “The investigation was in possession of evidence such that the crime in this case was evident,” he said. The investigation into this case began when Jiwasraya failed to make payment on policy claims for Rp802 billion in the JS Saving Plan in October 2018.
Benny Tjokrosaputro’s lawyer, Muchtar Arifin, was astonished that his client was named a suspect. “Jiwasraya should be held responsible,” he said.
Foreign Figures in the New Capital
President Joko Widodo has placed three prominent foreign figures in the steering committee for the construction of Indonesia’s new capital city in Kutai Kartanegara-North Penajam Paser, East Kalimantan. They are Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed, SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son, and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
“These gentlemen have good experience in the field of urban development,” he said after opening the Annual Meeting of Financial Services Industry on Thursday, January 16.
The addition of these three figures to the advisory board was discussed when Jokowi visited Abu Dhabi two weeks ago. Coordinating Minister of Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said that Mohammed bin Zayed will become chairman of the committee. Luhut has assured that construction costs will not be paid for by foreign sources. “We do not want construction of the office of the President and government offices to be paid by people, but to use the state budget (APBN),” said Luhut.