New Order mentality still prevails<\/p>\n
Being a foreigner and looking at the situation in Indonesia
\nnow, I wonder if saying something on the situation could be taken
\nas \"meddling with the internal affairs of a sovereign nation\".
\nAfter all, Ginandjar Kartasasmita, at the time, found it not
\nappropriate when other nations objected to the killings and
\ndestruction in East Timor. This, even when the people got the
\nchoice from the then president Habibie who knew only 20 percent
\nvoted for the Functional Group (Golkar) and, in fact, he had no
\nright to give them this referendum. This, even when Western
\ncountries are expected to pay the bill of restoring East Timor.<\/p>\n
So what can I expect as an investor in this country who, as an
\nindividual, put the majority of his savings in a project in
\nIndonesia? I did so last year because things looked good at that
\ntime. However, a year later I can only conclude that the \"New
\nOrder\" is firmly rooted in the minds of the haves and the \"civil
\nservants\".<\/p>\n
This last category is still mainly serving itself and, except
\nthat investment procedures are processed quicker, there is hardly
\nany real \"reform\". Who can blame my family in the Netherlands if
\nthy want me to withdraw from Indonesia? The House of
\nRepresentatives, still filled with a lot of New Order nominees,
\nacts like children on its first days without Soeharto, and is now
\nplaying more \"holy than the Pope\". Why instead is capital
\npunishment not yet introduced for corruptors? May legislators
\nhave \"butter on their heads\"? Why is the police still armed?. If
\nnot, they would not dare to continue to extort money as the
\npeople already have adopted their justice system, effectively
\nkilling thieves on the spot.<\/p>\n
Why are the police able to find practically every activist and
\ncritic of the New Order and harass, even kill them and yet they
\ncannot find Tommy (Suharto)? Why has Golkar not returned its
\nwealth to the other parties? The actions of the people at present
\nhave nothing to do with communism as Mr. Akbar Tandjung has
\nstated in The Jakarta Post of Feb. 9, 2001.<\/p>\n
And now the presidency: how happy I was with the prevailing
\nspirit one year ago and many people with me. But now we see
\nprecious time wasted on \"hanky-panky\" deals that are not clearly
\nexplained and a rational and intelligent minister with integrity
\nsent away because of his \"lack of personal support of the
\npresident\". His support of the presidency as an institution is
\nnot appreciated. Does this not bring back Indonesia to the status
\nof \"banana republic\"?<\/p>\n
If anyone who can teach me a lesson, please come forward
\n(words only please). My wish is to see a prosperous Indonesia
\nwith happy people who can constantly improve their lives,
\nmentally as well as physically, and have self-respect. And that
\nthe country is not used as a dump for waste by virtually
\neverybody.<\/p>\n
Why cannot it be like Malaysia, which used to be backward
\ncompared with Indonesia? It shows what a little less corruption
\nand a little bit better mentality by its officials can have on
\nthe lives of many. Maybe local autonomy may create more
\n\"Singapores\" in the region?<\/p>\n
BOUDEWIJN BRANDS<\/p>\n
Amsterdam<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/new-order-mentality-still-prevails-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }