Sizing up value of expert advice<\/p>\n
You see them on TV, you read their columns and interviews, you
\nattend their lectures and seminars, but at some point you feel
\nenough is enough. Call them experts, pundits, analysts, observers
\n-- their opinions can be invaluable, but they may come with a
\nprice tag. The Jakarta Post team Ahmad Junaidi, Budiman
\nMoerdijat, Devi M. Asmarani, Kosasih Deradjat, Stevie Emilia and
\nphotographer Arief Suhardiman tries to answer some of the
\nquestions on those with the answers.<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Turmoil and newfound freedom have brought a new
\nera of \"punditry\" to the country as people from all walks of life
\nare braver about speaking their mind.<\/p>\n
The experts go a step further by putting in print or speaking
\nin public forums on their solutions for what ails Indonesia.<\/p>\n
With recent simmering political tension, however, many are
\nwondering whether they offer solutions or merely aggravate the
\nsituation.<\/p>\n
Ask that to noted talk-show host and public affairs
\ncommentator Wimar Witoelar, and he will readily defend his peers.<\/p>\n
\"The very people who say that punditry brings more confusion
\nrather than solutions are probably those who contribute to the
\nconfusion.\"<\/p>\n
He blamed the authorities -- the government and the Armed
\nForces -- for exacerbating confusion in the country, with the
\nexperts on hand to try to put things right.<\/p>\n
Senior social and political observer Mochtar Buchori drew a
\ndistinction between \"pseudo pundits\" and their \"genuine\"
\ncolleagues.<\/p>\n
Distinguishing between them lies in their analysis.<\/p>\n
\"I think if we are not careful, we will all hold the opinion
\nof pseudo pundits, not the real pundit,\" Mochtar said.<\/p>\n
\"If you can give an analysis regarding the present situation
\nand later your analysis is validated by a development in the
\nfuture... then you are a real pundit.\"<\/p>\n
Those worthy of being called experts are few, he added.<\/p>\n
It is particularly true in politics, a field lacking any
\nscientific criteria to gauge the value of an opinion.<\/p>\n
Some lay the blame on the media for thrusting self-styled
\nexperts into the spotlight, and then distorting their opinions by
\n\"misquoting\".<\/p>\n
A senior political observer who insisted on anonymity argued
\nthe media contributed the most to both clarity and confusion in
\nthe country.<\/p>\n
\"The media is responsible for selecting somebody
\nrepresentative enough to be called an expert or a pundit.\"<\/p>\n
The media's tendency to use only selected snippets of
\ninterviews with experts also leads to miscommunication, he said.<\/p>\n
\"If you print partial interviews then you are also responsible
\nin creating the confusion, and if you do not pursue your question
\nexhaustively then it is also your fault.\"<\/p>\n
Credibility<\/p>\n
There is also the question of credibility.<\/p>\n
Some experts freely comment on everything, even on issues
\noutside their authority.<\/p>\n
After Soeharto stepped down in May at the height of the reform
\nwave, many economists preferred commenting on politics to the
\neconomy.<\/p>\n
But there is always the big turnoff of conflict of interest
\nwhich, unfortunately, casts a question mark on the objectivity of
\nmany.<\/p>\n
Market analyst Theo Toemeon is one of the most sought-after
\nexperts in the country. Yet one could have good reason to suspect
\nhim of vested interests because he has accumulated wealth from
\nbeing active in the money market.<\/p>\n
Other economists own and run their own consulting firms, and
\ntheir commentary on particular cases could be called into
\nquestion.<\/p>\n
Some pundits prefer politics to making money.<\/p>\n
Economists Faisal Basri and Kwik Kwian Gie and Mochtar Buchori
\nare among those who have recently emerged as political figures,
\nbut whose voice of authority in their fields of expertise remains
\nsomewhat credible.<\/p>\n
Faisal is the secretary-general of the National Mandate Party
\n(PAN), while Kwik and Mochtar are active in the Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan).<\/p>\n
They may be tracking the same career path of their senior
\ncounterparts, such as the leader of Nadhlatul Ulama Muslim
\norganization, Abdurrahman Wahid, and PAN's chairman Amien Rais.
\nBoth have been nominated for the presidency by their parties.<\/p>\n
The two important opposition leaders ascended to their lofty
\npositions after debuts as political observers.<\/p>\n
Wimar believes it is always necessary to have impartial
\nobservers or pundits.<\/p>\n
\"Observers should not be embroiled in day-to-day political
\nevent,\" he warns.<\/p>\n
Inevitably, objectivity takes a backseat when experts join the
\nranks of the bureaucracy.<\/p>\n
Prominent political scientist Dewi Fortuna Anwar may be
\ncounted among them after she was tipped by President B.J. Habibie
\nto become his spokeswoman.<\/p>\n
Personal thrills<\/p>\n
Despite the war of opinions between experts, noted political
\ncolumnist Soedjati Djiwandono expressed delight that newfound
\nfreedom could nurture the nation's passion to express itself.<\/p>\n
\"Democracy is a learning process, even on how to use freedom.
\nHow to respect the kind of freedom that is also enjoyed by
\neverybody else is also a learning process.\"<\/p>\n
What makes people want to put their reputations on the line by
\ndeclaring themselves experts?<\/p>\n
Soedjati cited the ability to disseminate his ideas through
\ncolumns in publications and speaking engagements at public
\nforums.<\/p>\n
\"When I do speak on politics or when I write... I do it out
\nof my conviction... so the more people who subscribe to my
\nviews, the happier I am.\"<\/p>\n
Wimar said he wanted to do his part to contribute to the
\ncountry's dynamic changes.<\/p>\n
\"At a certain point, you don't have much choice. If you're in
\nthe middle of a very fluid changing situation, you feel that
\npeople expect something of you and that if you resist then you're
\nnot contributing even a small part to changes in our society.\"<\/p>\n
However, his fee for sharing his wisdom at speaking
\nengagements and TV appearance ranges \"from nothing to Rp 12
\nmillion (US$1,300).\" (team)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/sizing-up-value-of-expert-advice-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}