(Reference : http://www.balidiscovery.com/messages/message.asp?Id=4884, found in my Inbox from Goestamar.)
Permit to Foreign Land Ownership was previously considered to pass, one reason was by taking example from the neighboring country, Australia. Population wise, Australia has few inhabitants and possess an enormous space, uninhabited. Obviously they need more people and invite the investors to invest in order to help boosting their economy, particularly in property, to make use of the empty land (read: desert). Bali in comparison to that, just by looking at its size, is way incomparable, not to mention its population. Unfortunately, this beautiful island is one of the main major incomes for the country; it was (and still) from tourism and further developed into property, which is still in the sub-category. The land is already eaten-up by the progressive rate of building developments, namely: villas, resorts. And it is an irony that the UNFCC was held in Bali, where it aims at coping with the global warming. This action is helping the earth to absorb more heat and encourage the ozone depletion. To comply with UNFCC aim, is far from even close. This is a contributory factor to the global warming, where more lands are stacked with buildings leaving lesser green lands to help producing fresh and clean air, and definitely along with that, there will be an increasing use of Air Conditioning which is sure, with the increasing heat, will exceed the minimum temperature rate of 25 degree Celcius.
Quoting the last sentence from the article "...the new rules are intended to help stimulate the national property market", said REI (Real Estate Association). Dear Sir, may I give you a better translation "..the new rules are intended to help stimulating our margins."
The joint-collaboration of the Ministry of Housing RI, the National House Office (BPN) and their 'client', REI itself is already a clue of what is going on in addition to the title 'Foreign Land Ownership'. They really made an interesting effort in fighting for the near-full ownership of the land of Bali for the foreigners. Still, in the authorities of Indonesia's mind, though not all, but mostly with major percentage, the priorities have not shifted from 'economy-benefiting certain parties' to poverty alleviations, for example. The rich will become richer, and the poor will remain at the bottom.
However, with also the latest trend of putting up political candidates' posters all over the corners in the region, not knowing how capable they would be running the government, please consider choosing and voting for your idols (if any)as the heavy degradation of the manpower quality can be seen very clearly. This nation, will sink along with the sinking Jakarta, the capital city, if nothing is done in order to rejuvenate this country.
Note: This is made in the point of view of the authorities only, not touching upon the general foreigners in Indonesia but the Land Protection of the Balinese.
By P.W. Rudolf
