Give Access to Land to the Underprivileged, President Jokowi Instructs

President Jokowi leads a Limited Meeting on Economic Equality Policy on Tuesday (7/2), at the Presidential Office, Jakarta

The Government is now focusing on addressing inequality among regions by accelerating infrastructures development, improving connectivity between regions, and increasing transfer of funds to the regions and villages.

The statement was made by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo in a Limited Meeting on Economic Equality Policy on Tuesday (7/2), at the Presidential Office, Jakarta.

The President said that national economic movement should not centralized in Java, instead, it should spread thoroughly around the country, including remote areas.

“In 2017, the Government wants to be more focussed in manifesting economic equality, particularly in reducing economic gap between the rich and the poor,” the President said.

The Economic Equality Policy is expected to reach the lowest social class. “Therefore, it needs several breakthrough policies, be it in the form of asset distribution, affirmative actions to provide equal opportunities, and improvement of access to education and skills for 40 percent of the lower social class,” President Jokowi explained.

In manifesting economic equality, the President added, land inequality will be the main challenge that must be solved because land is an important asset for 40 percent of the lower social class. “Thus, the Government must give access to land to the underprivileged as well as small farmers or agricultural laborers who do not have land, so it will create economies of scale that will increase their income,” President Jokowi said.

According to the President, we need to underline that the current data shows that the land are mostly owned by groups of people or corporations. “Not to mention that land collectors only pay tax less than one fourth of the value of the transaction to the country. It has to be fixed; we must immediately conduct agrarian reform and a just taxation system,” President Jokowi firmly said.

The President also underlined that lower social class will be given expand access to capital and access to education and skills. “Small holder Business Credit (KUR) also needs improvement so it will open wider access to the capital for micro, small, and medium businesses. Moreover, special schemes for KUR also need to be established because so far there are only general schemes,” President Jokowi explained.

The Government also needs to change the pyramid of manpower qualification which the majorities are elementary and middle school graduates to educated and skilled manpower. “It means, major breakthoughs and reforms in education, and vocational skill systems are needed. Therefore, we can be more focused on preparing human resources on leading sectors, such as maritime, agriculture, tourism, and creative industries,” the President concluded.

Also attending the limited meeting were Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Wiranto, Coordinating Minister for the Economy Darmin Nasution, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Puan Maharani, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut B. Pandjaitan, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, Minister of Research, Technology, and Higher Education Mohamad Nasir, Minister of Religious Affairs Lukman Hakim Saifuddin, Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Presidential Chief of Staff Teten Masduki, Minister of Tourism Arif Yahya, Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi, Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya, Minister of Agrarian and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency Sofyan Djalil, Minister of Industry Airlangga Hartarto, Minister of Trade Enggartiasto Lukita, Minister of Manpower Hanif Dakhiri, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Ignasius Jonan, Minister of Cooperatives, Small and Medium Enterprises Puspayoga, Minister of Agriculture Amran Sulaiman, and Minister of Villages, Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration Eko Putro Sanjoyo. (DNA/FID/RAH/EN) (RAS/MMB/YM/Naster)