Indonesia is the best

Indonesia is the best

These last few days I am a very happy man. Why? Because so
many Indonesian leaders at last are encouraging the people to use
Indonesian and avoid using foreign names or terms unless
necessary.

Yesterday there was a declaration of war against the use of
foreign names, a war unilaterally declared by the Governor of
Jakarta (The Jakarta Post, Monday, April 3, 1995).

I have the feeling that educated Indonesian people feel that
the use of foreign terms is a must, even though we have
Indonesian equivalents, just to look educated.

But there are other things which deserve our attention. One
example is, the confidence our people have in foreign doctors and
foreign medical treatment. Everything foreign is labeled "good"
or "excellent," while in my opinion our medical world is as good
as any. I cannot blame my fellow Indonesians, who have more
confidence in foreign medical treatment, because confidence in
medical treatment is a very big step towards healing.

To boost confidence in our medical world, the leaders must set
examples. What I see is that top leaders of Indonesia prefer to
go abroad and be treated by foreign doctors -- to USA, Australia
or Europe. They forget that Indonesia has capable and dedicated
doctors, with modern hospitals and modern equipment. Not to
mention the cost of foreign trips. Most of the complaints are
about post-care. How can they improve the post-care, if they do
not get the chance to treat people first?

But look, who stays in Indonesia for medical treatment? No
less than our President himself. He just went to RSPAD (the
military hospital) to get medical treatment and is now as healthy
as an old man could be and with Allah's blessing he will enjoy a
long healthy life.

I might be old-fashioned, orthodox, chauvinist, but I prefer
to do it in Indonesia with Indonesians, if it is possible.

It is not only 'soklin' is the best, but, for me, Indonesia is
and will remain the best.

SOEGIH ARTO

Jakarta