Vital statistics count<\/p>\n
As Indonesia enters the year 2006 everybody knows that its
\ntotal population is about 230 million, as per the census held
\nbefore the 2004 presidential election. However, personally I am
\nmore interested in its vital statistics, just as I asked my wife
\nfifty years ago before we married; in private of course.<\/p>\n
For instance, I want to know before the sun rises on Jan. 1
\n2006, how much of 100 percent is President Susilo Bambang
\nYudhoyono, I don't care about Vice President Jusuf Kalla (forgive
\nme), still enjoying public trust compared with the figure of 60
\npercent when he defeated the first woman president of the
\ncountry, Megawati Soekarnoputri.<\/p>\n
At this juncture in history, it is essential that we know how
\nmany people are living below the poverty line, since the National
\nDevelopment Planning Agency, has tragically missed the correct
\ndata when the poor queued to receive the government cash aid that
\ninvolved riots and resulted in two deaths.<\/p>\n
After the Cabinet reshuffle the right man to give the answer
\nto my above question should be the former coordinating minister
\nfor the economy. Alas, he is too new in his post as coordinating
\nminister for people's welfare so I hesitate to inquire. I also
\nhave no courage to ask the presidential spokesman with a musical
\nname, Andi Mararangeng, how many young men between the age of
\nseventeen and forty are unemployed. He may answer it is about 10
\npercent of the population at the most which is already a serious
\neconomic and social problem.<\/p>\n
I am also eager to know how many children are not attending
\nschool and how many school buildings need repair in the whole
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
I wish somebody would come up with the idea of publishing a
\nwhite book on national vital statistics they usually publish in
\nthis country to please the officials.<\/p>\n
Next year I must know with certainty how many illegal
\nnarcotics factories have been discovered and are still operating
\nand where. On the number of small islands belonging to Indonesia,
\nwhether it is 3000 or 7000 in total, one cannot rely on official
\nstatistics. Just think: The official inflation rate is seen as
\nhaving nothing to do with price increases.<\/p>\n
I am afraid that to get the correct data on economic growth
\none may have to consult the IMF or the World Bank.<\/p>\n
GANDHI SUKARDI, Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/vital-statistics-count-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }