Di Tempo, Edisi 4-10 November 2013, halaman 70-71 (http://wp.me/p1CsPE-DW), saya menulis kolom berjudul Sesat Pikir KEK dan MP3EI. Praktis tak satu pun kawasan ekonomi khusus (KEK) berjalan mulus. Di tulisan itu dikemukakan landasan pikir KEK yang keliru.
Contoh kecil adalah kasus Batam. Kurang bebas apa Batam. Kebebasan itu ternyata menghasilkan sosok Batam yang bertolak belakang dengan tujuan semula, yakni menjadikan Batam sebagai kawasan industry modern.
Bukannya menjadi pusat industri, melainkan kota ruko, kota perdagangan. Bukannya ekspor yang tumbuh lebih kencang, melainkan impor. Pertumbuhan sektor industri pengolahan hampir selalu lebih rendah ketimbang pertumbuhan PDRB. Yang berlari kencang adalah sektor perdagangan, hotel, dan restoran.
Masih merasa kurang dengan KEK, Batam menuntut kawasan bebas. Ternyata tak banyak perubahan ke arah yang lebih membanggakan.
Yang dinikmati Batam adalah harga rokok murah, hanya sekitar separuh dari harga rokok di daerah lain. Karena, rokok yang beredar di Batam tidak perlu bayar cukai. Minuman keras juga begitu, bebas.
Rokok di gambar itu tak ada label cukainya. Yang ada tulisan: KHUSUS KAWASAN BEBAS.
Faisal Basri is currently senior lecturer at the Faculty of Economics, University of Indonesia and Chief of Advisory Board of Indonesia Research & Strategic Analysis (IRSA). His area of expertise and discipline covers Economics, Political Economy, and Economic Development.
His prior engagement includes Economic Adviser to the President of Republic of Indonesia on economic affairs (2000); Head of the Department of Economics and Development Studies, Faculty of Economics at the University of Indonesia (1995-98); and Director of Institute for Economic and Social Research at the Faculty of Economics at the University of Indonesia (1993-1995), the Commissioner of the Supervisory Commission for Business Competition (2000-2006); Rector, Perbanas Business School (1999-2003).
He was the founder of the National Mandate Party where he was served in the Party as the first Secretary General and then the Deputy Chairman responsible for research and development. He quit the Party in January 2001. He has actively been involved in several NGOs, among others is The Indonesian Movement.
Faisal Basri was educated at the Faculty of Economics of the University of Indonesia where he received his BA in 1985 and graduated with an MA in economics from Vanderbilt University, USA, in 1988.
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