I was misquoted<\/p>\n
Your reporter misquoted me on two crucial points in the
\narticle concerning middle class and development in Indonesia (The
\nJakarta Post, Aug. 5, 1994, Page 1).<\/p>\n
I did not say that there were 16 million university graduates
\nin Indonesia today. In fact, as of today, there are less than
\nthree million university first degree (Sarjana) holders out of
\n189 million Indonesians. (Indonesian-language daily Kompas, Aug.
\n5, 1994, survey on university graduates and their employment
\nprospects). I did say that foreign private research sources
\nmaintain that roughly 16 million Indonesians living primarily in
\nurban centers had a monthly household bill of between US$250 and
\n$500. Even that seems high, in view of the fact that there are no
\nmore than 3.5 million Indonesians who own credit cards, according
\nto consumer banking sources.<\/p>\n
I did not say that a large majority of Indonesians did not
\nunderstand democracy. I did say that the best way to promote
\ncivil and political rights was a sustained attack on poverty and
\nimprove basic needs (housing, health care, basic education) so
\nthat the social economic base of civil and political freedoms can
\nbe enhanced.<\/p>\n
Assuming that 30 percent of middle class Indonesians is a
\nprerequisite to the functioning of a civil society, I estimate
\nthat it would take another 20 years before 50 million out of 210
\nmillion Indonesians in the year 2015 make it to the ranks of the
\nmiddle class. Hopefully, most of the 50 million would be
\ncommitted to broadening the political and economic base of
\nIndonesian society. We have a long way to go.<\/p>\n
JUWONO SUDARSONO<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>\n
Note: Thank you for your correction.<\/p>\n
-- Editor<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/i-was-misquoted-1447899208", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }