Comments: Kalla: Economy to grow by 8 percent

Sat, 05/23/2009 1:24 PM  |  Reader's Forum

Presidential candidate Jusuf Kalla has targeted that economic growth should accelerate to 8 percent per annum by 2011 if he wins the upcoming presidential elections. "We can grow by 8 percent easily by 2011. We are able to deliver that because state spending decreases, the world economy improves and demand rises," he told businessmen grouped at the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin).

Kalla is the first presidential candidate to speak before Kadin. Incumbent President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is scheduled to speak to the businesspeople on Wednesday. Candidate Megawati Soekarnoputri, however, has not yet given her confirmation to speak at the forum.

Your comments:
Economic growth is one of the most pivotal issues for presidential candidates if they want to get support from businesspeople. What Kalla conveyed in front of a group of entrepreneurs to make the domestic economy grow up to 8 percent is a good issue.

Economic growth has strong correlation with economy activity, in particular in the real sector where businesspeople operate. The problem is how to reach it. Since global economic activity underwent a slowdown, it directly influences the local economy. Over recent months, some economic indicators such as growth, exchange rates and unemployment rates tended to get worse.

To make what Kalla said come true, the next administration has to work hard and do extra. They have to be brave in taking unpopular actions, for instance reducing tax or subsidies.

Ifan

Kalla is not only a politician but has now become a magician. According to his statement that the economy will grow by 8 percent in 2011, maybe he should let the rest of the world in on his secret.

Barry Acott

46 companies lay off workers--May 18, Online

The global financial crisis rears its ugly head again as 46 companies based in Central Jakarta have reported they would lay off more than a hundred workers, an official said Monday. "According to our data, there have been 46 companies that reported layoffs as of April 2009," Daulat Sinaraya, head of the Central Jakarta Manpower Agency, said Monday. "The number of layoffs amounted to 114 people," he added. The data worsens the concerning state of the city's unemployment level, which the Central Statistics Agency had reported to affect about 8,000 Jakartans.

Your comments:
It is predicted there will be even more layoffs in June/July 2009 in Indonesia. The stock market will experience another crash in June 2009 and the unemployment rate globally will crash as well. There is also a prediction about how bad the economy and the society in America is going to look like - tax riots, food riots... including kidnapping, as is happening in underdeveloped countries today.

Elisheva Wiraatmadja
Bekasi, West Java

Food riots? Tax riots? In the US? What a stupid statement! Americans are used to depending on themselves, not on the government! One only sees disturbances in those countries where the population is so dependent on government handouts that they are unable to fend for themselves.

Hud

Paper company threatens orangutans--May 19 Online

One of the world's largest paper companies plans to clear a large swathe of unprotected forest being used as a sanctuary for critically endangered orangutans, according to environmental groups working in the area. Singapore-based Asia Pulp & Paper and a local joint venture partner, Sinar Mas Group, have received a license to clear hundreds of hectares of trees just outside the Bukit Tigapuluh National Park on Sumatra Island, WWF-Indonesia and four other groups said.

Your comments:

The incoming government must be aware of this issue, and not underestimate it as a cheap problem. I hope the elected president is a more caring figure on environmental issues.

Primoseto

Sad, sad, sad. Greed and selfishness will one day wipe all the species out.

Sledet T

Asia Pulp & Paper says "the government had officially allocated the forest for plantation use and it would follow all legal procedures". Don't hide behind loopholes.

Use your good judgment of what is right and wrong; how did your parents bring you up? You should be ashamed of yourself, taking in personal interests as opposed to protecting Indonesia's natural resources.

Rahadi Widodo

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