Reforms in the bureaucracy

The statement by state minister of administrative reforms, TB Silalahi, regarding the government's efforts to streamline the structure of our bureaucracy for greater efficiency is most appropriate and of strategic significance. To support the efforts taken to surmount the current monetary crisis under the agreement reached with the IMF, the government would take de- bureaucratization measures and streamline the state administrative structure from the center down to the regency level. This would be done without resorting to layoffs of government administrative personnel.

Such measures are highly appropriate, not only to achieve a greater overall efficiency within a bureaucracy that is generally considered to be sluggish, but also with a view to attain better quality and greater professionalism in the future. We know that -- at present, while the nation is being subjected to pressures and crises, but particularly in the future -- our bureaucracy will have to confront the biggest of challenges. The challengers can obviously no longer be met in "traditional" ways and methods which rely on false authority and power that have, because of a number of factors, for so long been an inherent part of our bureaucracy.

One of the greatest challenges faced by our bureaucrats, at present but especially in the future, is the increased capability of the public to appraise the quality of the public administration processes. Whereas people have so far been willing enough to go through all the required bureaucratic motions, every policy measure must from now on have a proper legal and policy base in order to be considered valid and be accepted by the public.

For this reason, our bureaucratic orientation obviously needs to be readjusted. Officials are expected to possess not only the capacities and capabilities appropriate for their respective fields of responsibility, but also to have the sensitivity to respond to every development that occurs in society.

-- Bisnis Indonesia, Jakarta