JAKARTA - The 1999-2024 National Forum of the MPR and DPR Leadership reminded the government not to ignore three things that are now intertwined, namely, global geopolitical pressure, increasingly tight fiscal space, and government public communications that are considered not cohesive.
The three are considered to be able to affect the political and economic stability of the nation if they are not handled quickly and measured.
The warning emerged in a forum meeting with the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs, General TNI (Ret.) Djamari Chaniago at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Sunday, March 15 evening.
This forum was attended by leaders of the MPR and DPR across periods, including Bambang Soesatyo, Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, Anis Matta, Fahri Hamzah, Ahmad Basarah, Agung Laksono, Sidarto Danusubroto, Marzuki Alie, Lukman Hakim Saifuddin, Melani Leimena Suharli, Ahmad Farhan Hamid, Agus Hermanto, Priyo Budi Santoso.
Also present were Setya Novanto, Hajriyanto Y. Thohari, and Achmad Dimyati Natakusumah, Deputy I for Political Coordination of the Home Ministry, Deputy Minister of Defense (Purn) Heri Wiranto, and DPR member Robert Cardinal.
Bambang Soesatyo said the country needed a clear view from figures who had been at the center of decision-making. According to him, threats from within and outside the country need to be anticipated with a cool head so that the public is not burdened with anxiety.
In the discussion, the participants assessed that the competition between the United States, Russia, and China had changed the Indo-Pacific geopolitical map and had a direct impact on Indonesia. At the same time, the country's spending needs continue to rise, from development to modernization of military equipment.
Setya Novanto proposed a budget deficit limit above 3 percent of GDP so that the government has more flexible fiscal space when economic pressures increase.
The forum also highlighted the quality of democracy. Agung Laksono assessed that the election regulation needed to be discussed again because there was still a perception that public aspirations had not been optimally channeled.
In addition, the forum highlighted the government's communication, which was considered not to be cohesive. Marzuki Alie and Melani Leimena Suharli assessed that the explanation of state policies was often not uniform, so it had the potential to create confusion among the public. Therefore, the forum encourages the government to prepare a strong, credible spokesperson who is able to explain policies quickly, completely, and consistently.
Anis Matta reminded, conflicts in various regions of the world could hit investments, trade, and state revenues. Therefore, the national economic strategy is considered to be more adaptive in the midst of global uncertainty.
Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Djamari Chaniago stated that all inputs were important for the government as material to formulate future policy steps.
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