The Dilemma Of The Presidential Regulation On Alcohol Investment: Jokowi Starts, He Also Endes

President Joko Widodo (Photo: Twitter @jokowi)

JAKARTA - Presidential Regulation (Perpres) Number 10 of 2021 concerning the Investment Business Sector finally breathes a sigh of relief after the dilemma of its presence is rejected or accepted.

The President officially canceled the regulation in the Presidential Decree which states that alcohol and alcoholic drinks are included in the open business sector. This means that the liquor industry is returned as a business sector with certain requirements.

Then what about the journey of Presidential Decree Number 10 of 2021 until the regulation is abolished?

Reaping the Pros and Cons

Differences of opinion had colored the presence of the Presidential Decree which was signed by President Jokowi on February 2.

Christina Aryani, a member of the DPR from the Golkar Party faction, assessed that the Perpres is in line with the spirit of Law Number 11 of 2020 concerning Job Creation which provides convenience for doing business and increases in investment.

"This is in line with the spirit of the Job Creation Law which makes investment easier to boost economic growth", Christina said when contacted by VOI, Monday, March 1.

However, Golkar's view contradicts PKS, PAN, PKB, and PPP.

PKS Faction Chairman Jazuli Juwaini asked the Government to maintain the basic values of the state and the constitution which are applied in policies in various sectors, instead of destroying them in the name of economic pragmatism.

"We remind you not to let state policies lose their way. Maybe the government made mistakes, and it is our obligation in the PKS Faction to remind this policy to be canceled", said Jazuli in his statement, Monday, March 1.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the PAN faction of the DPR RI, Saleh Partaonan Daulay, urged the government to immediately review the Presidential Decree. The reason is, some articles have the potential to cause polemics and unrest in the community.

"It must be seriously reviewed and studied. I am sure that the benefits of investing in the alcohol industry are very small. While the harm is definitely more. If necessary, the Perpres is immediately revised. Articles on alcohol must be issued", Saleh said in a statement, Monday, February 27.

Canceled Exactly One Month

President Joko Widodo or Jokowi issued Presidential Regulation Number 10 of 2021 to challenge the Investment Business Sector regarding liquor licensing which was signed on February 2. Where in Attachment III of the regulation, the alcohol industry is included in the open business sector.

However, in one month, Jokowi finally ended by revoking attachment III of the Presidential Decree which regulates new investment in the Alcohol-Contained Liquor Industry.

"I hereby convey, I have decided on the attachment to the Presidential Decree regarding the opening of new investment in the alcoholic liquor industry, I declare it is revoked", Jokowi said in a YouTube broadcast, Tuesday, March 2.

Jokowi said that this presidential regulation had provoked a lot of resistance in the community so that after receiving input from the Indonesian Ulama Council (MUI), Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Muhammadiyah, and other mass organizations.

The fate of the Presidential Decree, Appreciated after Blasphemed

The cancellation of Presidential Decree No.10/2021 was welcomed by the majority of parties. Jokowi's moved to revoke the Presidential Decree was appreciated.

The Deputy Chairman of the Indonesian People's Consultative Assembly from the PKB Faction, Jazilul Fawaid, took his hat off with President Joko Widodo's decision to revoke the attachment on liquor in the Presidential Regulation (Perpres) Number 10 of 2021 concerning the Investment Business Sector.

He was grateful that the President would listen to and grant input from scholars and the people. He hopes that policies that can threaten intelligence in national life will never be born again.

"Alhamdulillah, Salute to the President! This decision was made based on a high awareness of the fate of Indonesia's generations and future", said Jazilul in his statement, Tuesday, March 2.

Learning from the case of the revocation of the Presidential Decree, the MPR (People's Consultative Assembly) hopes that the Government will be more careful in issuing regulations. As well as paying attention to the aspirations of the community in issuing policies, especially those give a negative impact on Indonesia's future.

"The government must be observant because it is not impossible in policies, there are 'deposits' from certain parties", he suggested.

Bhima Yudhistira, an economic observer at the Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (INDEF), believes that Jokowi's step to revoke the Presidential Regulation is appropriate. This is because alcohol investment is less relevant in Indonesia's socio-economic conditions.

"So if the President is still running the Perpres, it is against his own policy", said Bhima.