Understanding World Bank<\/p>\n
Disappointing! This is what the World Bank thinks of the 100
\ndays of Megawati's administration. This administration, the World
\nBank says, is yet to make great strides in structural reforms and
\nin the running of the government.<\/p>\n
This evaluation is a bitter pill for Indonesia, a country rich
\nin natural resources but heavily dependent on other nations.<\/p>\n
This disappointment has led to negative market sentiment. The
\nrupiah fell to around Rp 11,000 per U.S. dollar at the close of
\nMonday's trading. Besides, it is also a hint that in the meeting
\nwith the Consultative Group on Indonesia in Jakarta this week,
\nthe World Bank and other regular creditors will not go soft on
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
President Megawati must use this disappointment as a means to
\nspur herself to review her Cabinet and handle things properly.
\nOtherwise, this disappointment, coupled with domestic
\ndissatisfaction of her Cabinet's performance, will only snowball.<\/p>\n
The commitment she made in her address at the recent opening
\nof the Annual Session of the People's Consultative Assembly to
\neradicate collusion, nepotism and corruption must be translated
\ninto reality.<\/p>\n
One thing that indicates the weakness of this government is
\nthat corruption cases of a huge magnitude are yet to be exposed.
\nWorse still, some of these cases have been shelved by the courts
\nbecause the legal enforcers concerned have been infected by the
\ncorruption \"virus\".<\/p>\n
Then she must ensure that domestic problems hampering business
\nactivities, such as continued imposition of formal and illegal
\nlevies and poor security, will be removed. Externally, she must
\nensure that the government is prepared for any jolt in the world
\neconomy caused by the U.S.-led attack on Afghanistan.<\/p>\n
The World Bank has based its evaluation of Megawati's
\nperformance on how she has responded to these internal and
\nexternal problems.<\/p>\n
If only such an evaluation came from a particular group in a
\nformal forum at home, this group would certainly be condemned by
\nthe pro-Megawati camp. As the evaluation has come from an
\ninternational institution, like it or not, it has to be accepted.<\/p>\n
-- Bisnis Indonesia, Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/understanding-world-bank-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }