Indonesia: Poorly managed

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