By: Adly Sinulingga )*
Infrastructure is not only the foundation of the country to progress, but also the embodiment of Pancasila values to realize social justice. The community also supports the sustainable development of the National Strategic Project (PSN) which is expected to be able to bring prosperity to all Indonesian people.
The Covid-19 pandemic has made our financial situation very hard, because people’s purchasing power is not good. The government is trying hard so that this problem is handled properly, and it should not be destroyed like during the monetary crisis in 1998. One of the steps taken by the government is to continue the national strategic project.
National strategic projects are Indonesia’s strategic infrastructure projects during the administration of President Jokowi. The aim is to help increase economic growth, equitable development, community welfare, and regional development. National strategic projects are regulated by a presidential regulation (Perpres) and their implementation is carried out by the central government, regional governments, business entities, and government-owned enterprise cooperation.
The project will continue even though it is still a pandemic.
The reason is because if it is postponed, it will be stalled and dangerous, and even cause a lot of bills in the future. If it’s stalled, there’s a lot of renovation and maintenance costs, and we don’t know when the pandemic will end. Therefore, President Jokowi ordered to move forward.
In addition, the sustainability of national strategic projects will not overturn the Indonesian economy, because the budget has already been regulated. In fact, this project is very important to raise the state’s financial condition, because it will produce a positive impact. The public should not be taken in by rumors that this project is a waste of state money.
When there is a national strategic project, the people’s economy will also be helped. The reason is because in one project, hundreds, even thousands of workers are needed. This can create jobs and eventually the number of unemployed will be reduced. When unemployment is reduced, the burden on the government is also reduced and the socio-economic situation in Indonesia will be secure.
In addition, workers in national strategic projects can also get a salary and eventually spend it on basic necessities and other needs. This can move the wheels of the country’s economy and our financial situation will gradually improve. The reason is because people’s purchasing power increases and there is a circulation of money again.
The results of national strategic projects can also be felt by the community. They can enjoy infrastructure, because they are never late in paying taxes, and feel good roads and toll roads. Smooth roads can have a positive impact on the economy, because the delivery of goods is also smooth and fast. So that public trade will run smoothly as well.
In addition, the vision and mission of the national strategic project is to equalize development, so that even people in remote areas of Papua can enjoy as much infrastructure as possible and as much as in Java. To advance Indonesia, there must be an even distribution of infrastructure, from Sabang to Merauke, it can’t just be Java centric.
Therefore, the whole community fully supports the sustainability of the national strategic project, because it is beneficial for all the people. Even though we are still in the Covid-19 pandemic, the project cannot be stopped. In fact, the project is a way to advance Indonesia and equalize infrastructure, so that all provinces in this country feel modernization.
The Indonesian people support national strategic projects by obeying taxes, because taxes will be one of the sources of project funding. They are aware that taxes are not burdensome, but return to them and can be utilized by enjoying the infrastructure built by the government. Hopefully the pandemic will end soon and national strategic projects will continue to run smoothly.
)* The author is a contributor to the Nusa Bangsa Institute
