Bureaucratic mentality

From Sinar Pagi

The mentality of the government's low-level bureaucrats gives cause for concern.

Most of them ask to be served because they do not know what to do, said Asep Kartiwa who is a chairman in the School of Political Science at Padjadjaran University in Bandung.

Public service is almost non-existent with the low-level bureaucracy because they work with an eye to a reward. At a higher level things are running better in general, but only certain institutes pay attention to public service.

Developing countries like Indonesia are characterized by a decline in good mental attitude and social concern. The government bureaucracy does not know dedication and sacrifice. Their attitude is arbitrary. It is time to strike a balance between right and responsibility. The government should be able to democratize public service.

Democratization of institutions should be carried out from top to bottom. Hopefully this would make public service gradually improve. Now it is only the public who pays for the bureaucracy's shortcomings -- government employees are never penalized for negligence in fulfilling their obligations.

Therefore, it is time that government employees be penalized if they do not serve the public well.

I fully agree with Asep Kartiwa's statement. Let's hope his ideas will come to realization in the efforts toward creating a clean government.

IRWANSYAH

Surabaya, East Java