Indonesia: Poorly managed

I would like to say how much I enjoyed your editorial A failing state? published in the May, 22 issue of the Jakarta Post. However, there is one very important misperception that I would like to comment on. In the fifth paragraph, you refer to Indonesia as being one of the "poorest nations in the world".

This is not at all true, and tends to create an unfair stereotype or image, especially in the eyes of those outside the ASEAN region.

Indonesia is in fact not poor. If you look in terms of both natural and human resources, Indonesia compares very favorably with the USA and better than many of the "developed" nations, including Japan and Singapore. The "root cause" problem facing Indonesia which you alluded to in the editorial, is not that Indonesia is poor, but that it is poorly managed. To the point of being criminal negligence and malfeasance. This has resulted in a disproportionate distribution of the wealth being in the hands of the politically connected.

As a businessman who gets to travel all over Asia, I can attest to the fact that despite my love of this country, it is by far the most mismanaged country in the region -- far worse than China or Vietnam, neither of which are democracies. And the problem is getting worse, not better. This should stand as an embarrassment to those "leading elite" who have been educated at the best universities America, Australia and Europe yet only have this to offer. They should know better, but still continue the "old ways".

The implications of being poor are seeking handouts from the more developed nations, while the implications of being poorly managed are an internal matter over which the citizens of this rich and diversified country have control over. The question is not when, but for how long can the "as is" situation continue before a charismatic leader emerges who will unite the people to take action?

I think the distinction between a country "being poor" and a country being "poorly managed" is a critical point that a reputable paper such as the Post should be more clear and emphatic in making.

PAUL D. GIAMMALVO

Jakarta