Limited information

Limited information

It is saddening to notice that development in Indonesia is
still full of ironies. Take for example the issue of reading. On
one hand, the government continues to encourage people to read
books so they will not lag behind other nations, particularly in
the era of globalization. But on the other hand, the government
has imposed a high tax on imported books, and the price of local
publications is still very high. Strangely enough, Timor cars
which are still a luxury for Indonesians are exempted from import
duty.

Flyovers, toll roads and other constructions could be readily
financed, but we struggle to find a well-equipped public library
offering a good collection of books and various informative
materials managed by professionals.

How can we expect the younger generation to grow into capable
and qualified human beings and keep the number of foreign workers
at a minimum if access to information is limited?

JONGKY SURJOPRANOTO

Jakarta