Indonesia: Poorly managed<\/p>\n
I would like to say how much I enjoyed your editorial A
\nfailing state? published in the May, 22 issue of the Jakarta
\nPost. However, there is one very important misperception that I
\nwould like to comment on. In the fifth paragraph, you refer to
\nIndonesia as being one of the \"poorest nations in the world\".<\/p>\n
This is not at all true, and tends to create an unfair
\nstereotype or image, especially in the eyes of those outside the
\nASEAN region.<\/p>\n
Indonesia is in fact not poor. If you look in terms of both
\nnatural and human resources, Indonesia compares very favorably
\nwith the USA and better than many of the \"developed\" nations,
\nincluding Japan and Singapore. The \"root cause\" problem facing
\nIndonesia which you alluded to in the editorial, is not that
\nIndonesia is poor, but that it is poorly managed. To the point of
\nbeing criminal negligence and malfeasance. This has resulted in a
\ndisproportionate distribution of the wealth being in the hands of
\nthe politically connected.<\/p>\n
As a businessman who gets to travel all over Asia, I can
\nattest to the fact that despite my love of this country, it is by
\nfar the most mismanaged country in the region -- far worse than
\nChina or Vietnam, neither of which are democracies. And the
\nproblem is getting worse, not better. This should stand as an
\nembarrassment to those \"leading elite\" who have been educated at
\nthe best universities America, Australia and Europe yet only have
\nthis to offer. They should know better, but still continue the
\n\"old ways\".<\/p>\n
The implications of being poor are seeking handouts from the
\nmore developed nations, while the implications of being poorly
\nmanaged are an internal matter over which the citizens of this
\nrich and diversified country have control over. The question is
\nnot when, but for how long can the \"as is\" situation continue
\nbefore a charismatic leader emerges who will unite the people to
\ntake action?<\/p>\n
I think the distinction between a country \"being poor\" and a
\ncountry being \"poorly managed\" is a critical point that a
\nreputable paper such as the Post should be more clear and
\nemphatic in making.<\/p>\n
PAUL D. GIAMMALVO<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesia-poorly-managed-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }