100 days of Megawati's administration

100 days of Megawati's administration

November 19 marked 100 days of the Megawati-Hamzah administration.

Indonesia has been in a protracted crisis for far too long. In four years, four presidents have come and gone. Naturally, much hope is psychologically pinned on the present administration.

Now that the three months' honeymoon period is over, what can we say about this administration? Well, not very encouraging, for a start.

The President and her ministers are not quite pro-active.

There must be some reason for this lethargy. Trying to find the right trick to do the job? Lacking in coordination? Lack of understanding of the cabinet programs, especially those related to the community? Or, perhaps, lack of funds?

Or the House of Representatives may be too active now and may be interfering in matters that should only concern third-echelon officials. It is also said that the right art of management has yet to be found to conform with the present reform era.

Perhaps the chaotic condition of the country is to blame.

Views have been voiced that the government has been handicapped by an ineffective coalition of parties, that each party has its own agenda. Powerful conglomerates are said to have close ties with the inner circle. Besides, corruption, collusion and nepotism have become more rampant than before as practically nothing has been done to eradicate them.

We accept the argument that the present government is still hampered by the ongoing crisis and the euphoria of democracy, but after having been in power for 100 days it must now show itself capable of leading this country and running the administration.