One Child Policy
Feb 7th, 2007, in News, by PatungCouples on Java should have only one child, says the vice president.
Vice president Jusuf Kalla said to representatives of the national family planning agency (BKKBN) on the 6th that families on the island of Java have to be restricted to only one child. Java was small and overcrowded, and, he is reported to have said, once the Jakarta floods had receded those who wanted children should have only one.
Java represents 6.7% of the country’s total land area, while accounting for almost 60% of the total population. kbri-bangkok.com
Outside of Java Kalla said that there was still much development to be done and a healthily growing population would be of benefit to this. In places like Kalimantan (Indonesian Borneo) and Sulawesi (Celebes) families should be allowed to have up to three children. Those in (West) Papua could have up to five children, he said.
Jusuf Kalla.
There couldn’t be a single and uniform family planning policy for the whole country, Kalla went on, because each area was different. The economic capacity of each province, as well as its land area, education facilities, and other factors, had to be taken into account when determining ideal family size for each place. tempo
82 Comments on “One Child Policy”
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Dimp says:
I wonder how many kids he has.
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Ihaknt says:
Dimp, from which wife?
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Magy says:
You might think this is nonsense. However there are few things that helps a community grow than restrictive on the number of children. For societies that have too many mouths too feed in relation to its capacity to produce there is never room for productive investments – they simply cannot afford it because all the resources go to immidiate consumption. Prosperous societies all have large savings and investment in both productive assets and human development such as education.
Its not obvious though how this could be attained in a democratic society.
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Chris says:
It’s a shame the government hasn’t funded the former policy of “dua anak cukup” (two children is enough) – which provided information to the public regarding birth control and reproductive health – for many years.
Once again, the VP places the blame on the people, rather than acknowledge the government’s own shortcomings…
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Bumikita says:
Transmigration? Hasn’t this already resulted in catastrophic consequences in the past, e.g. Mega Rice Project in Kalimantan? Anyway, transmigration does not address the root causes of the problem – too many people. If the government is serious about its family planning efforts, it will need to work with religious leaders and provide incentives to see some results.
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Robert says:
Outside of Java Kalla said that there was still much development to be done and a healthily growing population would be of benefit to this. In places like Kalimantan (Indonesian Borneo) and Sulawesi (Celebes) families should be allowed to have up to three children. Those in (West) Papua could have up to five children, he said.
There should be one policy which is applicable to the entire country. Areas like Kalimantan and Sulawesi are not overcrowded (yet), but it is wise to limit the growth to prevent that a Java-like situation will develop.
I agree with therighteousdude that the “dua anak cukup” policy should have been funded by the Government. Now it’s too late (for Java), politicians start shouting.
And BTW, what has the Jakarta flood to do with family planning? -
Cukurungan says:
Magy,
Are you Indonesian or Alien from Jupiter? For the poor couple what they have just make love and sometime a foods but nothing else no tv, no internet, no entertaiment and no traveling. So the poor couple activities just the way around making kids, find a food and nothing else.
In here, the words of saving is an extraordinary word that only be known 20% of us (indo).
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1ndra says:
There should be one policy which is applicable to the entire country. Areas like Kalimantan and Sulawesi are not overcrowded (yet), but it is wise to limit the growth to prevent that a Java-like situation will develop.
Transmigration isnt that easy, friend.
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1ndra, that line doesnt suggest transmigration. It suggests that the rule should also be applied to other areas in Indo, not just limited to Java, before it’s too late just like what has happened in Java.
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This is my point. Without savings, no investment, without investment no prosperity. But a country cannot save if there are to many mouths to feed.
I say this with the insight, obviously, that this is not an easy task to solve, since RI is not a dictatorship as China is. Nevertheless, you should ask yourself, why China think one-child-policy is so important? And also ask why should this not also be very important for RI.
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Sorry, I think my eyes got burned. 😀
Yes, Java is almost overcrowded (mostly in big cities).
One child policy for me is too exaggerate, we live in not so ‘peaceful’, not so ‘lawful’, free from crime and excellent health country are we. -
Cuk, if you know your only entertainment is sex then wear protection. Bringing life into this world should not be taken lightly.
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Nevertheless, you should ask yourself, why China think one-child-policy is so important?
Because China is overcrowded? 🙂
And overcrowd makes bad life, at least there’re must be mighty pure clean water and food supply, not to mention virus spreading and jobs competition.And one child bring decrease in size, why, two people ‘produce’ one child, means, 1 billion people produce 500 million children and when the 1 billion people died, China left with 500 million people, a half.
If two people ‘produce’ two children, then the population is still the same, overcrowded. -
Ihate,
Will you borrow your money for my sex protection? Once you are giving your money simply I will diverted to buy foods becoz I am a poor one only sometimes had regular foods.(three times meals/day)
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Sure. How much do you need? There is also ancient system of calendar. Use that. Also if banks have withdrawal facilities so can you. Also, if you own a computer then sell that or make a business out of it. Rent it out. Charge your neighbor if they want to borrow it.
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Indra,
Transmigration isnt that easy, friend
I wasn’t talking about transmigration like Ihaknt already noticed.
The benefit of having the “dua anak cukup” policy for whole Indonesia is twofold.
First, it would prevent overcrowding in the future .
Secondly, it would take away one motive for transmigration. Otherwise 1 or 2-child families could migrate to Sulawesi or Kalimantan and get more children over there.I am not saying that transmigration will stop, but the plan of the vice-president would encourage transmigration and increase the growth of the Indonesian population.
Therefore I say, one country, one rule. -
Hey all, so does it mean that a polygamous guy with 4 wives is allowed to have 4 kids? What if he divorces 1 and then marry another to keep the par level, does it mean he will have the 5th kid? What if, they are all girls and he wants a boy? The what ifs can go on.
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zapata says:
It’s a shame the government hasn’t funded the former policy of “dua anak cukup” (two children is enough) – which provided information to the public regarding birth control and reproductive health – for many years.
As far as I remember, the family plan policy was aided by the World Bank. It wasn’t effective at the end and the fund stopped.
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Ihaknt Says
Hey all, so does it mean that a polygamous guy with 4 wives is allowed to have 4 kids?
Not if a polygamous guy with 4 wives is considered one family. I don’t know how Indonesian law deals with this situation, one family or four families. Maybe one the other forum members knows better and can shine his or her light on this issue.
Suppose it is considered a 4-family situation, than a polygamous guy in West-Papua could have 20 kids with his 4 wives if the vice-presidents plan would be realised. -
For tribes who lives around mountains of Jayapura, it is very common for a man to have wives more than four but most of them only can alive until 45 years old. Therefore, their existence is in danger and for them are not required KB or one kid policy to control their population.
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Tuan Tua says:
This policy is short sighted and could create larger problems than it attempts to solve.
I can’t imagine that within 20-30 years RI will have a universal old age pension, national superannuation scheme, free or low cost old age health care. The burden of the aging population will still fall as it does now, on family.
With only 1 kid the burden would be immense.
It reduces the ratio of employed to aged unemployed – the tax base (if you can collect it) effectively shrinks. Infrastructure and services suffer.
It could also add to, rather than reduce the problem. More young people could be attracted to the city or tourism trying to earn the money to support mum and dad. Village life and structure suffers from a lack of continuity and new, young input.
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Asuy says:
I don’t know if you guys think the same as I do. But I still believe that the decision of how many kids that you have is a very personal rights. I mean, when somebody think that they can raise ten kids to become a good person, why he only allowed to raise one? I think the more people get well educated then more people that able to make this decission wisely. How many well educated people still believe that “banyak anak banyak rejeki” nowadays? Not much I guess. Then probably the key to this issue; like the most of the issues; is a good education system.
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Tuan Tua,
It reduces the ratio of employed to aged unemployed – the tax base (if you can collect it) effectively shrinks. Infrastrucucture and services suffer.
This is a typical situation about which you can say you are damned if you do and you are damned if you don’t.
You are right when you say that for 1 child the burden would be immense. On the other hand an unlimited growth of the population could lead to a disaster as well.
More people need more houses, for more houses you need more space, this will put a burden on nature.
And what about work? All these people need to work too, so you need a growth in economy to employ all these people.
And then there is food, the food production needs to keep step with an increasing growth of the population. If Indonesia can’t produce it, it has to be imported, which will cost extra.
Whatever the Indonesian government decides to do, every decision will have its specific disadvantages. -
Hellbent says:
Implementing such a policy is likely to be as successful as tax collection. But it is useful for the Veep to raise the issue. Even a 3-child policy would be an improvement! Say, a child tax: impoverish the poor even more.
The issue should not be confused with polygyny. The rule, if adopted, should be aimed at mothers. Who knows who the fathers are anyway?
The Veep is not serious, he is just trying to distract the electorate from the failings of the current administration.
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Hi Robert,
I don’t think, there’s an extra burden to the nature as long as people breeds naturally, live wisely in the environmentally manner. God is not too stupid, Nature will be able to provide foods and other needs of all mankind but nature will not be able to satisfy desire of single Greedy Bush.
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Cuk, you’re dreaming. Of course nature will be burdened. People will need to clear land to build houses, plantation for food, roads for transport, fuel for transport that comes from fossils. There’s limited supply of water. Live in environmentally wise manner? Do you actually do that? Do you put your rubbish in its place? Do you save water? Do you turn off your car engine when you’re stuck in a 3 hour rush hour traffic? I am sure your answer is no to at least one question.
God is not stupid (human is, many don’t even use their brains and common sense) I agree with you, but you can’t expect Him to always just provide and provide and provide. Humans generally don’t even really take care of the environment. They use and toss aside when finish. And again you blame bush for environment problem, it doesn’t even connect in some ways. Don’t you see the problem with current flood in Jkt? People throw their rubbish anywhere they please. That’s not Bush’s fault. There are already many extinct animal species due to over-hunting, and tuna now is close to an alarming numbers due to over-fishing (if you wanna blame someone – because it’s just what you do -, probably Japan is to blame for this, not the US). The ecosystem is no longer in equilibrium due to us, humans. The sea corals are no longer colorful, many if not most, are actually dead due to oil leak from ship or its anchor dragging along. Don’t forget factory toxic waste. The list can go on.
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I mean, when somebody think that they can raise ten kids to become a good person, why he only allowed to raise one?
Its rare nowadays, 2 child even give more problem than 10, in these days.
You might be send all 10 of them to school, but if their morality arent improved, you’re get five times more smart ‘calon penjahat’ and not to mention building more jail houses.God is not too stupid
Then He made hell because He knows everything.
Nature will be able to provide foods and other needs of all mandkind
Only if the nature growth is linear with human growth. I don’t think the earth would exceed the size of the sun.
Otherwise we could go back in the prehistoric ages when everything’s green.Don’t you see the problem with current flood in Jkt? People throw their rubbish anywhere they please. That’s not Bush’s fault.
I hope the CIA isn’t behind this flood by throwing all garbages out from the trash cans. 🙂
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IHATE,
I am not dreaming just see how Finland people manage their resources and how badui people live in harmony with nature. Even Finland is not the biggest exporter country but they live just what they need, the most finland house only has a single car even they afford to do more and they are not less prosper than other industrialized country.
What you all mentioned garbage and extra burden are caused by people with a wasted life style.
Sorry Dude Ihate,
I understand your feeling toward Bush because you’re grabbing piece in there for a living.Actually, I don’t want to connect Jakarta Flooding with George Bush but if you wish so I will provide it a below.
Under Bush leadeship, US is the one’s didn’t sign ratifycation of Kyoto Protocol, you should know better than me what the impact to the global climate system.
I already said that in order to support “American Life Style”, 300 millions of American consume 20 millions barrels oil/day while the world’s oil production is 76 million barrels/day.
So if 2.5 billion china and India follows path the American style, a simple math will tell 166 million barrels/day. Where the shortage oil can be found, might your answer is innovations technology and unfortunately those innovations is only available in the format killing iragis by Bush. -
Well Cuk, I won’t waste my time with you cause you are blinded by this hate-Americans thing and you don’t always make sense. I am aware what the Americans are doing to this earth. They are human and so are we, we just happen to be in Indonesia. Also Finland doesn’t have a huge population like we do with 250+ millions of lives and counting. I don’t need your rubbish facts, if they are facts at all.
How could you say it’s a wasted life style? Do you even know what that means? People just produce waste. I produce waste, everyone does.
We produce so much pollution in Jakarta alone, tell me if you wake up to a blue sky everyday. If you want to live ‘naturally’ then go naked, cook your food with raw fire, hunt, skin the animal, cut it, and all that kind of stuff. At least in Indo it is hot and doesnt get below 0.
The natural disasters happen because it’s just it. If the balance is disturbed then NATURALLY it will shift somehow, i.e. Landslide, due to land clearing. I am saying all these because you mentioned that the nature won’t mind the extra burden if people just keep on breeding. Which is wrong. I am not a scientist but it doesn’t take a genious, as we all can see and have witnessed, we, human have done so much damage to the earth that many resources are now very limited and unsustainable.
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Why didn’t he just create a program that would transmigrate people and provide them with jobs?
So what happens if a lady falls pregnant unexpectedly in Java? Is she allowed to terminate or does it contradict his policy?
I must say he’s got a beautiful smile.