STRENGTHENING THE ROLE OF KPPU IN ASEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY: THE ISSUES AND CHALLENGES
Abstract
ASEAN has already agreed on the ASEAN Economic Blueprint (2007) as the Foundation for realizing the ASEAN Economic Community that one of the characteristics is the achievement of a Competitive Economic Region through the implementation of competition law and policy. Basically, competition policy and law business is necessary to be implemented in every country. Because by 2015, there will be free market flows. In the previous time, the trade transactions in goods or services are separate from 10 countries, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Brunei Darussalam, Viet Nam, Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar. But, by 2015, the trade transaction will be unified and integrate into a single market. This means that businessmen in Indonesia especially businessmen who would like to expense their business in other countries have to understand other countries policies. Indonesia as part of ASEAN, in performing the supervision of unfair competition exercised by the KPPU (Komisi Pengawasan Persaingan Usaha). Referring to law No. 5 of 1999 on Anti-monopoly and unfair competition, only KPPU that got the mandate to monitor and enforce the business activities that are not fair. KPPU already established since 1999. Yet, the role of KPPU is not optimal, in performing their authority and their role. Moreover, Indonesia has to protect their national interest through KPPU, that's why KPPU have to prepare themselves well. This paper would like to deal with the issue strengthening the role of KPPU in ASEAN Economic Community. Furthermore, the authors would discuss the issues and challenges in strengthening the role of KPPU in ASEAN era. As a result, KPPU as the state agency that supervises the unfair competition is very important. KPPU should be in one part of the strategy of the Government. KPPU is not only as a tool to protect the interest of the business company, to realize the fair competition. But also, the KPPU should be one of the instruments to win the "business competition", in an effort to protect the national interest of Indonesia.