Smooth succession

Smooth succession

From Jayakarta

The succession issue is drawing greater attention especially when the general election is just around the corner. The fact is that the present president is getting older, even though many believe he is still strong enough to maintain his post.

It should be noted that the New Order has had successes and failures, and we have to learn from these failures. The foreign press even labeled Indonesia as the most corrupt country in Asia. But strangely enough, foreign capital keeps flowing into Indonesia.

One of the most crucial areas is education. The cost of education has been burdensome to parents for the past 25 years. This only makes future leaders resort to acts of malfeasance, including collusion and corruption, in return for any professional courtesy.

Sooner or later we will experience a succession in leadership. This particular issue should be handled with extra care. Singapore, for example, has been very successful in this matter. We know that former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, the founding father of the country, is still holding a post as Senior Minister, and his son, who is a military general, is a minister in the cabinet.

Indonesia, as a developing country, where democracy is still in its infancy, must prepare for a smooth and natural transition of national leadership. But, it is important that the present leadership remains unchanged, until the time arrives for a trouble-free transfer of power.

MULYONO

Jakarta