How RI can be a First World nation<\/p>\n
Patrick Guntensperger, Business Consultant, Jakarta,
\nttpguntensperger@hotmail.com<\/p>\n
The Republic of Indonesia has everything it needs to take its
\nplace among the nations of the First World. There seems to be
\nlittle reason for Indonesia's perennial position as a paradigm of
\nThird World backwardness and poverty.<\/p>\n
What then, is the reason for a country with the blessings of
\nabundant natural resources, proximity to the world's largest
\nmarket for consumer goods and a climate that is envied by the
\nrest of the civilized world, to be so far behind the rest of the
\nworld in economic terms? What is preventing a country as blessed
\nas Indonesia from taking its place among such Asian countries as
\nSingapore, Japan and Taiwan?<\/p>\n
The facile answer is the endemic corruption that exists
\nthroughout every stratum of government. It is common knowledge in
\nIndonesia that any court case can be settled favorably by means
\nof a payment to the judge. Any police matter can be handled by
\npayment of a bribe to the right official. Any paperwork, license,
\ndocument or permit can be acquired by open bribery. Corruption in
\ngovernment is so completely pervasive that an honest civil
\nservant (were there such a thing) would be looked upon with
\nskepticism and deep suspicion. It is not cynical, merely
\nrealistic, to observe that if you want anything done by any level
\nof government, you had best be prepared to pay a bribe to the
\nfunctionaries responsible.<\/p>\n
That is the day-to-day reality of dealing with bureaucracy in
\nIndonesia. And, of course, the reality of rampant corruption is
\neven more blatant at the higher levels of government. Does anyone
\nseriously believe that there is an honest system for the
\ntendering of government contracts? Could anyone in Indonesia say
\nwith a straight face that they know of even one significant
\ngovernment contract that was awarded on the basis of an honest
\nand fair bid and was uncorrupted by nepotism, bribery or
\ncoercion? Has there ever been a political appointment made on the
\nbasis of merit? Even to ask the question is to invite bemused,
\ncynical laughter.<\/p>\n
Oddly, this points to the less facile answer to the question.
\nIt is not merely the corruption that runs from the very highest
\nlevels of government to the cop on the street in Indonesia that
\nholds the country back from progressing into the community of
\ndeveloped nations; it is the tolerance of that corruption. Many
\ncountries have a level of corruption that impedes that country's
\ngrowth and progress; one thinks immediately of South American
\ncountries, for example.<\/p>\n
Nonetheless, Indonesia has a long way to go before it achieves
\neven, say, Argentina's status among the community of nations.
\nThat is largely because, although corruption in countries like
\nArgentina is rampant, the population as a whole rejects it.
\nPeople, when they encounter graphic examples of corruption in
\npublic office, may not be surprised, but they are offended, they
\nare outraged and they express their outrage. Indonesians, on the
\nother hand, are not only unoffended by corruption, they embrace
\nit in their own lives.<\/p>\n
It is a sad reality that the people of Indonesia expect
\ndishonesty in their day-to-day business transactions. The sale of
\ninferior products masquerading as genuine or originals is so
\nroutine as not even to elicit a raised eyebrow. Empty guarantees
\nand meaningless warranties are not the exception, but the rule.
\nAn agreed upon price that suddenly changes before the transaction
\nis complete is infuriatingly commonplace. It is a rare tradesman
\nindeed, who doesn't immediately triple the price asked for his
\nproduct when he sees a foreigner approaching.<\/p>\n
It is a truism that corruption can only be attacked from the
\ntop down. That is to say, we all realize that the prosecution of
\na minor official for routinely accepting gratuities for doing his
\njob would be an empty gesture as long as corruption on a vast
\nscale at the highest levels of government exists. But like all
\ntruisms, this one could bear some scrutiny.<\/p>\n
In fact, acceptance of that truism is essentially anti-
\ndemocratic and, in the final analysis, irresponsible. It is
\nfounded on a mindset that suggests that Indonesia is a country
\nthat is ruled rather than governed. The truth is that for
\ncorruption to be eliminated, or even diminished, it is the people
\nthemselves who must change their thinking.<\/p>\n
If the average person were to be appropriately outraged by the
\ncomplacent dishonesty that surrounds him, habitual corruption
\nwould be unacceptable. Corruption in government exists by the
\nexplicit or tacit consent of the governed. There will never be
\nchange -- at the top or anywhere else -- as long as those who
\nelect the government tolerate theft, bribery, nepotism and all
\nother forms of corruption.<\/p>\n
As a democratic country, Indonesia has at it its disposal the
\ntools that are required to put an end to the almost comical level
\nof corruption that holds this country back from her rightful
\nplace among the mature nations of the world. We must remember
\nthat a democratically elected government has a responsibility to
\ncarry out our wishes and that, if it fails to do so, a more
\nresponsive government will replace it.<\/p>\n
Every citizen must not merely expect, he must demand the
\nhighest standards of integrity of his elected representatives.
\nEach elected official must constantly feel the pressure of
\npersonal accountability to his constituents. And the elected
\nofficials must recognize that they will be held accountable for
\nthe integrity of the unelected civil services with which they
\nhave been entrusted. It must be understood that a breach of the
\npublic's faith is a career-ender.<\/p>\n
This kind of accountability in government does not
\nspontaneously develop; a very demanding populace must impose it.
\nAs long as corruption is tolerated, as long as dishonesty is
\naccepted as the natural order of things, it will continue to
\nflourish. When the average person decides that he or she deserves
\nbetter than to be routinely lied to, betrayed and stolen from,
\nthe will to change will begin to make itself known. Only then
\nwill Indonesia begin to take those steps that will lead to her
\nacceptance among the truly evolved nations of the world.<\/p>\n
The writer has a Master's Degree in Philosophy and
\nundergraduate degrees in Political Science and History from York
\nUniversity, Toronto.<\/p>",
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