Skin-deep reforms only

Skin-deep reforms only

Amid the economic crisis that continues to burden Indonesians, various efforts have been made by the government to assist those affected. Support has also been received from abroad, for example through the World Bank's Social Safety Net program, which targets the rural poor.

We were therefore shocked to learn that leakages within the World Bank's program have led to the non-disbursement of aid to its intended recipients. Many publications have recently drawn attention to these irregularities

Mar'ie Muhammad, chairman of the Indonesian Transparency Community, last week reported his group's findings to President B.J. Habibie. The report stimulated the President to issue orders for a transparent implementation of the program and a directive that non-governmental organizations working in the provinces be engaged to oversee its disbursement.

What happened?

If critical reports emanating from the community are correct, the development is highly regrettable -- not only because the program involves an international agency and can therefore adversely affect Indonesia's reputation -- but also because it demonstrates the base moral standards of those entrusted with the program's execution, namely the bureaucrats.

Problems involving the implementation of the Social Safety Net program represent only one example of the leakages and corruption that plague our country. The conclusion we draw from such problems is that the reform movement remains skin-deep. Our reform drive is comprised mostly of slogans and statements; it has not affected the way our people think and act.

The bureaucrats responsible for such leakages in aid programs are acting within the old rotten mentality that is part of Indonesia's current devastation. The push to establish a clean and authoritative government is in name only. The reform drive remains a political appeal; it has not yet touched the nation's mentality.

-- Republika, Jakarta