Complaints regarding the bureaucracy

The government bureaucracy is again in the spotlight. This time it is the comments from President Megawati Soekarnoputri. In essence, the head of state said that cooperation between the ministers and the first and second echelon officials was not good. As a result, the government policies could not be executed the way they should be.

As far as we know, this is the President's complaint regarding bureaucracy that she expressed openly. Thus, the implications are huge. Among other things it reflects the annoyance due to the unchanging attitudes of the bureaucrats. But will such "a slap in the face" be effective without subsequent follow-up policies?

The government bureaucracy has suffered from a negative image for a long time. The reform era is almost meaningless and it does not have a positive influence on the bureaucracy. The bureaucrats have become even freer, as they are no longer bound by the principle of singular loyalty. Apart from that, the bureaucrats take advantage of the weak legal system by using their positions for their own interests.

The officials under the ministers have their own agenda. Unfortunately, the ministers are mostly newcomers, therefore they do not have the support staff who understand and are capable of carrying out the aspirations of the its head. Thus the ministers become isolated due to the existence of power groups within their own departments.

Not everyone working under the ministers sabotages their policies, but what can be noted is that the bureaucrats have dual loyalty. They often lean toward their own political party, and not the party of the minister.

The development of such bureaucrats' attitudes is deeply lamentable. A straightening up of the government apparatus is required along with the supervision by the people. If no action is taken, subsequent to the above complaints from the head of nation, then the situation will only deteriorate further.

The bureaucracies in Thailand, Japan, Taiwan, France and South Korea, for instance, can pose as good examples. In these countries a change of government or conflicts among the political parties do not affect the bureaucracy's capability in performing its functions.

-- Bisnis Indonesia, Jakarta