Need for introspection

Need for introspection

President Soeharto often says the Javanese phrase: Rumangsa
bisa, nanging ora bisa rumangsa. Translated, this means, "To feel
that one has the ability to do something, but not able to realize
this ability." Broadly speaking, this expression means that we
have the political will to evaluate our real ability in the
context of our job we are doing. However, this also implicitly
calls on us to do introspection. This is verily an important
philosophy, and I would like to explain why.

Lately, a number of incidents, which concern politics,
economy, law, have taken place one after the other, and have
tarnished the integrity of our nation.

It is appropriate for us at the beginning of the sixth five-
year development plan to assess our achievements and failures.
Only after we have made the correct assessment can we start with
the next step -- the payment of our foreign loans amounting to
US$ 90 billion. Also, we must not forget to pay due attention to
a number of issues like the fate of the workers who are
underpaid, the need to uplift the people's knowledge, the need
for reduction of the social gap and most importantly the need for
character building. All these are necessary for the realization
of a better future.

-Merdeka, Jakarta