Problems for the bureaucracy

Problems for the bureaucracy

From Media Indonesia

Despite some people's suggestion that the office of the state
minister of state administrative reforms be liquidated, I believe
that the presence of this state minister's office is very
important, especially considering that the bureaucracy is facing
a number of serious problem in the face of the major changes
taking place in the country, such as:

1. regional autonomy;

2. the relocation of civil servants from conflict-ridden areas;

3. the placement of civil servants from ministries that have been
liquidated or merged;

4. the government's limited financial capability to finance the
bureaucracy;

5. the transformation into and development of multifaceted
patterns of thought in the bureaucracy.

With these conditions, the country needs a bureaucracy that
can provide good service to the community, just like the
bureaucracy in some other countries. Given the present conditions
and problems, the State Civil Service Agency (BKN) and the
National Institute of Administration (LAN) cannot handle the
bureaucracy properly by themselves. It would also be too strange
to leave this matter to the President.

It is in this context that the office of the state minister of
state administrative reforms may play a role in helping the
President exercise control over the ongoing changes. LAN and BKN
will implement, not formulate, policies. Although some quarters
have been suggesting that the President liquidate the above
office, it is to be hoped that the President can see clearly the
ulterior motive behind this suggestion.

The liquidation of the office of the state minister of state
administrative reforms will only give the impression that the
President has no empathy for the problem-embroiled bureaucracy.
Fresh turmoil will ensue and new problems will arise
unnecessarily.

SRI WINARSIH

Jakarta