32 million, not 40 million

32 million, not 40 million

I am referring to the article 40m Indonesians cannot speak 'Bahasa': Expert, published in The Jakarta Post on Thursday, May 4, 1995, page 2.

The article was quoting my speech in front of the Antara journalists, in which I said that, "17 percent of the 103 million population do not know Bahasa Indonesia." So this percentage is equal to 32 million, and not 40 million as reported.

If we count only the Indonesian people over five years old, the number will be 27 million.

This correction is necessary to comply with the 1990 census.

ANTON M. MOELIONO

Center of Development

of Bahasa Indonesia

Jakarta