Basis of development

Basis of development

The polemics in the discourse on democracy and its
ramifications, as published in the mass media (Kompas, Oct. 7,
Oct. 8 and Oct. 10), surely give food for thought as to why
Indonesia, 50 years after its entry into the United Nations,
persists -- oddly enough -- in being plagued by a myriad of
fundamental issues aside from conceptual interpretations of
democracy, including nationalism, rampant graft, frivolous law
enforcement, low quality of education, high rate of unemployment
and poverty, while other nations that entered the UN after
Indonesia (such as Malaysia, and even Japan and South Korea) are
already basking in the light of their respective countries'
prosperity.

Keeping in mind the economic development of China, it is too
far-fetched to cite the case of that country as reference, as it
has reached the lofty status of an economic giant by now and as
such, will sooner or later aim for membership in the G-8 -- the
exclusive club of the world's richest nations.

There is one striking goal, as far as economic reform is
concerned, that China has maintained conspicuously over the past
20 years (The Jakarta Post, Sept. 15). During these two decades,
11 years was devoted to technological development toward its
manned space program, which resulted in the successful launch of
the Shenzhov V on Oct. 15. Thus, China could take pride in
becoming the third country to send a man into space (Post, Sept.
15, Oct. 16 and Oct. 18).

Now, if China was notorious for corruption, particularly in
the 1980s, but now, in entering the first few years of the third
millennium, has succeeded in becoming an economic giant, this
means that country has successfully combated and wiped out the
perilous evil of corruption.

Meanwhile, South Korea has also turned into an economic power
house. In light of the above reference to the successful
achievements made by China and South Korea, followed by Thailand
and Malaysia, now the question arises in retrospect -- why does
Indonesia lag so far behind?

It is upon the strength of a nation's economy that countries
build, not via a delusive reliance on the rhetoric of ideological
assumptions.

China's lesson teaches us that it is the force of pragmatism,
not abstract speculations, that helps spur the nation to thrive
in its development.

S. SUHAEDI
Jakarta