Minister not impressed with Indonesian youth

Minister not impressed with Indonesian youth

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Defense and Security Gen. (ret.) Edi
Sudradjat berated yesterday what he called the lethargic
character of Indonesia's youth.

"To be honest, if we observe the conduct of youth and the
students, or the younger generation in general, it is not the
behavior befitting a developed and independent nation," Edi said.

Addressing the closing day of a seminar entitled "Reflection
on and Projections Regarding Nation- and Character-Building in
Indonesia," Edi said that the deficiencies in question threatened
to inhibit the nation's progress.

"If the trend is not checked, then in the very near future our
country will be left behind by the other Southeast Asian
nations," he said.

Other countries in the region may not yet have acquired the
same rate of economic development, but their "dedication and
desire for development might be better than ours", he said.

The two-day seminar was held by Bakom-PKB, a government-
sponsored agency charged with promoting social integration
between the country's various ethnic groups.

Ethnic Chinese are the largest group among Indonesia's non-
indigenous ethnic minorities.

Edi said the country's youth did not appreciate the value of
time, typified in the jam karet (elastic hour) culture prevalent
in Indonesian society.

Jam karet is a popular adage for tardiness among Indonesians.

According to Edi, the work output of Indonesia's younger
generation leaves a lot to be desired.

"(Their) productivity is not pleasing, while their consumerist
nature is quite worrying," he said.

The retired general said that the Armed Forces could probably
help correct these lethargic tendencies by instilling discipline
in the young people.

He added that the finer qualities identified with the non-
indigenous population should be emulated by the indigenous youth.

"The non-indigenous population should influence others with
their diligent, efficient and studious work ethics," Edi said.

Banks

Speaking of the disparities in wealth in society, Edi said it
remained a source of social envy which could eventually threaten
national security.

Indonesia's ethnic Chinese are recognized for their
entrepreneurial skills and are widely considered to be the main
benefactors of Indonesia's economic success.

Their economic wealth has often led to resentment among the
indigenous population, which regards itself to be economically
less fortunate than their ethnic Chinese countrymen.

"A naked truth which cannot be denied is that government
banks, followed by private banks, greatly prefer non-indigenous
Indonesian debtors, thus making them as big as they are now," Edi
said.

In the face of the underlying tensions flowing from economic
disparities, Edi lauded the military's role as a sort of
mediator.

"The Armed Forces chief function is as an absorber in conflict
situations, so that it does not ascend to the surface," he said.
He added: "ABRI's credibility in the nation is crucial in
maintaining a sense of security.

He said that the Armed Forces were often in a difficult
position, since they were perceived by the poor majority as a
protector of the rich. (mds)