RI can be a great country

I refer to the account in The Jakarta Post on May 21 of the presidential address on the occasion of National Awakening Day, wherein he urged the Indonesian people to "feel proud of themselves and do the best they can for the country". He further urged them to "remain confident in themselves" and expressed his confidence that Indonesia will one day be a developed country.

I am just an apolitical salary earner and so it is most heartening and gratifying to note that the views expressed by the President of Indonesia are similar to views I expressed in my letter published recently in the Post.

Then on May 23, I read a letter, SBY, please axe the 'iskal' tax, by Suharto wherein the author says some harsh words about the elite of the country. In my letter I also said that if anyone has let down this country, it is the elite.

I have no doubt that it is just a question of time before Indonesians realize their hidden potential and take a quantum leap forward in their self-confidence and performance. However, I would like to strongly appeal to my Indonesian friends to become proficient in English to widen the horizons of their knowledge -- both technical and non-technical.

The elite class hopefully will mend its ways and discharge its responsibilities scrupulously and conscientiously. I am sure these actions will make Indonesia not only a developed country but a truly great country.

K. B. KALE Jakarta