Hary Tanoe as Corruption Fighter Indonesia Presidential Election, Hary Tanoesoedibjo, Peoples Conscience Party (Hanura) Media mogul Hary Tanoesoedibjo has outlined his strategies to transform Indonesia into a major power, but says his first challenge is to stabilize the country’s floundering economy. Speaking at a Jakarta lunch event organized by the Singapore Chamber of Commerce in Indonesia on Monday, vice presidential hopeful Hary said that he was deeply concerned about the mismanagement of the country. “Indonesia has the potential to grow to become a big nation. Indonesia has every single thing to become a superpower,” Hary said. “But we have issues with corruption, weak law enforcement and the legal system, intolerance, a big gap in social disparity and educational problems. It’s impossible for Indonesia to grow if these issues are not resolved,” he said. His vision is hampered by slowing economic growth, at 5.8 percent in the second quarter, compared to 6.2 percent in 2012. The rupiah, meanwhile, has fallen about 20 percent since the start of the year, raising costs of imported goods and making it expensive for some Indonesian companies to buy equipment such as machinery from abroad to expand their businesses. The central bank in the past few months raised its key interest rate from 5.75 percent to 7.25 percent to counter a pick-up in inflation and to support the rupiah, but Hary viewed the moves as too little, too late. “A long time ago, I proposed to the government to increase the interest rate, but the response was slow,” he said. As the vice presidential candidate from the People’s Conscience Party (Hanura), Hary said his first initiatives would be to combat corruption, develop equal infrastructure across the country, implement appropriate economic policies and nurture entrepreneurship among the youth. Hary’s first foray in the political scene with the newly established National Democratic Party (NasDem) in 2011 was marred by allegations of violation of media ethics. He resigned from NasDem in January of this year, citing disappointment with party chairman Surya Paloh. Shortly after he joined Hanura and announced in July his bid to be the running mate to party chairman Wiranto, who is seeking the presidency. Critics, however, doubted Hary’s visions as mere plans, saying he lacked concrete actions and that he used his media empire to gain an edge over his rivals. Hary controls the MNC Group, which owns television stations RCTI, Global TV and MNC TV. “There have been indications of violations that [Hary’s] television stations use public frequencies for the benefits of certain political parties,” said Nina Armando, a communications lecturer at the University of Indonesia. “Almost everyday there is news about Hary Tanoe as a vice presidential candidate, or about Hanura members, or the party’s activities, while other political parties don’t get the same treatment.” Building an empire Hary, 48, reached the main stage of Indonesian business from an early start through the investment firm Bhakti Investama in the late 1980s. He started his empire by buying heavily indebted companies struck down by the 1997-98 financial crisis. After the fall of Suharto’s New Order, Hary set his eyes on the media industry, taking advantage of the newly open system at the start of the reform era. According to Globe Asia, Hary this year has a net worth of $1.7 billion. His experience in business during the New Order made him all too familiar with the country’s bureaucratic red tape. Among his stated strategies are to combat corruption and to improve the legal system and law enforcement. “We need transparency in all concession allocations and government contracts, with a ‘no brokers’ policy,” he said. In one approach, Hary wants to review all legislation and implementation based on the country’s Pancasila ideology, including appointing public officials from professional backgrounds, as opposed to members of political parties, and filling top positions at the executive levels, from district heads to ministers. Arbi Sanit, a political analyst at the University of Indonesia, however, said he doubted Hary’s plans for the betterment of the nation. “To appoint more professionals as local leaders and ministers is only possible if his party garners more than 50 percent of seats in the House [of Representatives]. Hanura is a small party, it’s impossible,” Arbi said. “His goals are unrealistic.” Political aspirations “It wasn’t an easy thing for me to decide to be involved in politics,” Hary said on why he made the transition into politics. “I have a big business, and it continues to grow … I’m not after wealth anymore. I think it’s better to have a leader who is already settled when they are in politics than when they are not settled.” He added that politics was the vehicle to help him achieve his goals, that is, to serve the nation. “If I’m in a [political] position, business for me will be a second priority,” he said, adding that he had appointed a replacement to manage his business. “I have somebody to replace me [running the business] next year. [It is] my seriousness to be in politics,” he said, trying to assure those who were concerned that he would not be able to properly manage his political and business interests. Hary’s career as a businessman will likely not be much affected by his popularity or electability as a politician, some analysts say. Yunarto Wijaya, research director at political consultancy Charta Politika, said that Hary was unlikely to leverage his media ownership to boost his popularity. Even support from his political party and the backing of former general Wiranto will not do much, Yunarto said. “Wiranto and I complement each other,” Hary said. “In terms of professionalism, my strengths lie in economics and business, and I’m weak in the matter of [national] security.” Yunarto viewed this differently. “Wiranto’s political investment is at its low point. He ran as a presidential candidate in 2004 and in 2009 as a vice presidential candidate. The trend for the pair is negative,” he said. Ethnic minority Still, Hary views himself and Wiranto as the perfect pair. “As for personal background, I am a minority, a Chinese-Indonesian Christian, while Wiranto is a Javanese Muslim,” Hary said, but added that with religious intolerance on the rise, he did not want to think about it too much. Jakarta Deputy Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama is seen by critics as a positive representation of Chinese-Indonesian businessmen who have become successful politicians. Although he has not been tested in practical politics, Hary seems promising, some observers say. But he dismissed the idea that race and religion played a vital role in the country’s political arena. “The majority of Indonesians do not care about religion. They only want solutions … We have to get ahead, we don’t need to be bothered with this. No majority, no minority,” he said. “Indonesia needs strong law enforcement, regardless of ethnicity.”
Posted on: Fri, 29 Nov 2013 03:20:24 +0000
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