RI can be a great country

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