Vice President Boediono: Our Faith

When Vice President Republic of Indonesia Jusuf Kalla will leave the post to his successor memory, Boediono, he delivered some hope. Jusuf Kalla hoped his successor would not be just a "spare tire". "Because the spare tire will only be retained," said Jusuf Kalla. Boediono, he said, must be "helpers driver" who can remind, directing, and even replace the driver when the helmsman wants a short break.

Compared with Jusuf Kalla of the Golkar Party that supported Boediono do seem to waltz with "empty hands" when the vice president's office. Relations President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono with Vice President Jusuf Kalla when he was also tied with the political contract division of tasks between them. Now the situation is different. There is no political contract. But he assured that he was not just "tire" of a car. According to him, the division of tasks by the President based on need. "There is no demarcation of the static," he said.

After the sports complex of Bank Indonesia, quietly and calmly as usual, for more than an hour Vice President Boediono explained the program's first 100 days of government and a few other questions to Tempo at his office on Friday last week.

President Yudhoyono has set 15 programs, the main focus of the first 100 days. How it formulated?

Initially there is 45 programs. Before we were sworn in, there is a small team that prepared the 100-day program and five years. We also have conducted the National Summit to get input from stakeholders. After that, the President chose 15 major programs in the next 100 days. Programs that are included in the contract the performance of ministers. Monitor the implementation, in addition to the coordinating ministers, conducted the President to Work Unit Monitoring and Control of Development, headed by Kuntoro Mangkusubroto.

Is there a special task division between the president and vice president?

Principally, there is responsibility on the president. I helped the president wherever necessary. So there is no demarcation of the static. But, if you look at my skills, maybe he will give a lot of economic problems of responsibility and welfare. We complement each other. So I'm not just a tire of a car.

How the division of tasks between the minister and the coordinator of the Work Unit President?

Work Unit no institutional policy makers. The determination of government policy remain in the department or ministry. Electricity policy, for example, discussed in the department, coordinating ministers, vice-president, to president. But, once the policy was a knock, the president can order Work Units monitor and see if there are blocks in its implementation. If there is, units should be done. That's where the Work Unit can be a busybody.

What is meant pry this extent? Only a mere coordination or until the implementation?

The mandate of this Work Unit is to solve the occlusion (bottlenecking). They have no authority to order the minister issued a decision to resolve the issue. The solution remains the authority via the coordinating ministers, vice-president, or president.

The idea to adopt the concept of the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit in the UK?

Formerly British Prime Minister Tony Blair used the concept of the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit. Perhaps the idea from there. But I do not know if this is exactly the Work Unit with the British.

It seems like the Work Unit Operational Control Development Secretary in the era of President Suharto.

I think the Work Unit is more active than the Secretary of Control.

There used to be a political deal between President Yudhoyono and Vice President Jusuf Kalla. Now?

Nothing. We trust each other. The contract was a substitution of the relationship of trust. If no mutual trust, so do not have a contract.

Is there a presidential decision to the vice president job?

Assignment per issue, so it is more flexible. For example, to alleviate poverty, will set up a special body headed by the vice president. If the problem can be solved in electricity minister level coordinator.

There are problems of infrastructure, electricity, and poverty, which has rusted. Does the policy compiled from the beginning again?

I am not a person who saw the need to have the boundary between new and old government. There are 27 issues left Jusuf Kalla. Most will still be me continue. So there is no discontinuity. Of course with the format and solutions that best suit current conditions.

Of the 15 programs, what the economic program became the most important priority?

Investment into the key problem. Of the needs of Rp 2,000 trillion to achieve economic growth of seven percent, the share of government budget is only 15 percent. The rest, 85 percent, from investors. That is, the government must make every effort to keep the investment climate attractive to investors.

How big is the impact of the Corruption Eradication Commission case against the investment?

If you look at the objective conditions and market psychology, not very influential. For long-term legal certainty is a fundamental factor. If not, they prefer to play in the stock market. That's what we worry about.

You follow the news about the Corruption Eradication Commission, or was given only to the special staff?

Lovable. I follow ..., ha-ha-ha ....

Problem amendment Labor Law. Kok, seemed lost. Is not it important to attract investment?

At last presidential candidate debate, Mr. Jusuf Kalla's right. Entrepreneur complaint, workers are also not happy with the Labor Law that now. There ought to be mutually agreed changes. The government will not force it, or when this should be agreed upon. The agreement the two main stakeholders is important.

But is not the amendment of this legislation is urgent?

The government will facilitate the meeting of two parties, workers with employers. Not good government to give direction from the beginning. To be sure, the amendment was not 100-day program.

Land acquisition for infrastructure also seems there is no solution. The President has issued a presidential decree, but not effective. How?

We all agreed, to build a toll road Trans-Java, the problem of land acquisition. Within one year will be prepared legislation on land acquisition for public interest.

What is it?

Direction to remove the blockage in the land acquisition. But justice must remain between land owners and the public interest. In these countries the most liberal exists eminent domain act to liberate the land for public interest. For the sake of public interest, private interest must yield. Stay the way how to weight the public interest is not too large, or vice versa.

Electrical recent weeks continued to byar-pet. What kind of government energy policy?

Electricity became the main focus for all electrical needs. Primary energy will be directed to support the settlement of electricity supply. The President was asked in today's 100 existing action plan details per region, including supply-demand balance and the projected electricity needs.

Or the basic electricity tariff will be raised because the subsidies that many people fall into actually afford?

There are three major subsidies that will be reviewed in the medium term, so that will achieve a sustainable level of subsidy and suitable (right target). Sustainable means not exceed certain limits from the state budget. Three large subsidy is electricity, fuel oil, and fertilizers.

Does direct cash assistance policy still continue?

Cash assistance will still be continued, just another form. The focus on poor families, linked to their needs. For example in the form of tuition fees or the cost of health services. Cash aid is only done during the emergency, not in normal circumstances, such as fuel prices soar, or rice.

World crude oil prices continue climbing up. Is there a plan to raise fuel prices to push subsidies?

Subsidies will still be given. Not possible in two or three years of subsidies to zero. I am myself inclined to vote subsidies more specific targets and setting the price formula is more flexible. Thus, every time there is change in energy prices, do not need a minister to decide the increase or decrease in price. Such a way that even shook the economy.

Uncertainty of oil prices is very high. Does the government consider the option hedging (hedging)?

It's a long option, but not yet implemented because it is unclear how much benefit and harm. By hedging, we can be a big profit, but also big losses. In uncertain situations, hedging does not eliminate the basic risk it. Suppose we fix the price of oil but it missed so many. We might even be to blame and legal issues.

The vice president's office will be moved to the complex adjacent to the president's office. For what reason? Is consideration mystical or so the president is more easily controlled?

Ha-ha-ha .... The reason, so that more integrated physically, rather than have to mew-mew every time we wanted to see. In addition, so that statement out to the media was also one vote. No longer what the word Merdeka Selatan (the vice president's office now) the other with the word Merdeka Utara (presidential office).

Century Bank's handling of cases is still not clear. What actually happens when it?

At that time economic conditions Gonjang-ganjing, then we take that policy. Situation from September to December last year with a condition similar to 1997-1998, when the government closed 16 banks. Capital flow occurs out and jammed interbank lending facility. Medium and small banks worst affected. They're usually rely on interbank facilities. Also rumors stuff. Fuss, Indonesia did not have a blanket guarantee (guaranteeing deposits fully), but neighboring countries have implemented a full guarantee. We save the Century in order to save the economy so that the event ten years ago did not happen.

But the cost of expensive salvation?

Century handling costs may not be completely relieved.

Does the president at that time could not calm the market?

No. The market can not be comforted by the statement the president. Markets have their own dynamics and logic. If there are problems earlier and later discovered fraud at Century, still must be investigated. But, at that time, any bank that collapsed should we handle.

At any cost?

Cost must not greater than the cost of the rescue in the event of a domino effect. In 1998, the cost Rp 600 trillion. If Century closed, still need to cost nearly USD 6 trillion.

Many are linked Century problems with the Corruption Eradication Commission case now?

Hopefully the truth will be visible. If indeed the flow of funds will be checked, I was very supportive, so that people do not diombang and forth various issues.
(www.rainbowdiplomacy.com/translate tempointeraktif.com, Nov 9, 2009)