The President's men and the nation's hope

The President's men and the nation's hope

There is so much controversy surrounding the current Cabinet
-- both in its genesis and its prospects -- that The Jakarta
Post asked H.S. Dillon, a political economist, his opinion on
these issues.

Question: How do you view the genesis of the Cabinet?

Answer: Gus Dur (President Abdurrahman Wahid's nickname)
possesses superior intelligence. He could have finessed it, and
got what he wanted without ruffling any feathers. Such rash
behavior does not bode well for the legacy of a great visionary,
a true democrat and a real humanist.

Q: What can you say of Ibu Megawati's reaction, or rather, lack
of reaction?

A: I consider Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri' response
more statesmanlike. By going along and agreeing to lead a Cabinet
not of her own choosing, she has placed national interests above
everything else. However, she now faces her moment of truth.

Megawati has to rise to the occasion and demonstrate that she
actually possesses all the qualities demanded of a national
leader. She needs to convince the public that she intends to
discharge her responsibilities as mandated by parliament, and is
totally committed to better governance.

I am confident that she'll succeed if she assembles a group of
loyal, dedicated technocrats to help her articulate her vision
for a more just Indonesia and manages to keep the ambitions of
her inner circle in check.

Q: How would you rate the prospects of this Cabinet?

A: I am sanguine. If the ministers could contain their ego,
provide due deference to Megawati and not bask in the limelight,
then everything should be all right. Otherwise, individual
ministers will carve their own inroads to power, and the Cabinet
will soon be divided onto itself.

If this were to occur, then Megawati would have to take her
case directly to the Indonesian people, who want a better
livelihood, are sick of the rapacious conglomerates, detest the
self-serving bureaucrats and are tired of the bickering
politicians. I am sure that all of the Indonesian people would
rally around her.

Q: What do you think of the economic team?

A: I am very much impressed by the ten points outlined by Rizal
Ramli. He is according the right priority to increasing rural
labor productivity and not merely trying to resuscitate the
institutions which were the cornerstones of Soeharto's regime.
This is more akin to "growth through equity". I could actually
label his paradigm as being people-driven, something I have been
espousing for quite some time now.

It's unfortunate that the membership of the team leaves much
to be desired, but Rizal is providing an early demonstration of
the requisite economic leadership.

Q: What advice would you render them?

A: Avoid theatrics; get down to substance at the soonest. Sit
down and review the Letter of Intent (LoI) with the IMF like
gentlemen. Despite all their policy errors, thank the IMF because
for a long time the LoI was the only coherent policy framework.
Transform the bureaucracy to make sure that the whole government
is ready to assume ownership of the necessary reforms.

Running a government is very different from managing a think-
tank, or directing a profit-seeking entity. I would encourage
them to formulate a comprehensive revival strategy, fully
incorporating any new LoI within it.

Q: What do you think of the Cabinet's association with the much-
detested conglomerates?

A: Let me reiterate that I am sanguine, and am more than ready to
brush aside comparisons with Soeharto's last cabinet. It is
important to realize, however, that these are not just the
President's men (and women), but expediency and a confluence of
interests have shaped the current Cabinet.

However, Rizal is still young and I am sure that he would not
want to jeopardize his promising career by being perceived as a
conglomerate lackey. Whatever his previous relationships may have
been like, now he has to convince the Indonesian people that he
is pursuing national interests. Otherwise, the same Indonesian
people will see to it that this be his first and final stint in
public office.