Complaints regarding the bureaucracy

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