South Kalimantan Apindo Chief Slams Criminal Charges Against MSME: “A Dangerous Precedent for Entrepreneurs”
Sunday, 11 May 2025
Banjarmasin – Chairman of the South Kalimantan Provincial Board of the Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo), Winardi Sethiono, has voiced concern over the recent legal case involving a Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise (MSME) operator in Banjarbaru.
Winardi criticized the harsh legal action, saying it sets a troubling precedent for the business community, particularly MSMEs in the region.
“Mistakes made by MSMEs should be addressed through guidance, not immediate criminal prosecution. This clearly sets a bad precedent for other MSME players,” Winardi told teras7.com on Sunday (May 11, 2025).
He cited the recent closure of the culinary business “Mama Khas Banjar,” which drew public attention. Beyond impacting the business owner, Winardi argued that the shutdown triggered a domino effect, particularly for employees who lost their jobs.
“What about the fate of the workers? At a time when our economy is still recovering and layoffs are on the rise, such actions could worsen unemployment in South Kalimantan,” he said.
According to Winardi, MSMEs play a crucial role as the backbone of the people's economy. He emphasized that legal measures like this contradict the government’s ongoing narrative of strong support for MSME development.
“We’ve constantly heard the government declare its support for MSMEs, but actions like this are clearly contradictory,” he added.
Winardi urged law enforcement authorities to exercise wisdom in handling the case, especially given that no casualties were involved.
“We hope prosecutors and judges will weigh this case carefully,” he concluded.
Source: teras7.com
